Migraine in the Andes and headache at sea level

In Cerro de Pasco (CP), Peru (altitude 4338 m) 24% of men have migraine with aura. We studied 30 men. Twenty CP natives, examined in CP, were rated using a chronic mountain sickness (CMS) score to separate controls (10) from those with CMS (10), a maladaptation syndrome in natives to altitude which includes severe, recurring headache. We collected white cells in CP and, from the same men, within 1 h of arrival in Lima (150 m above sea level). Ten normal US men volunteered white cells for comparison. After RNA extraction we assessed gene expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Low ATP1A1 subunit of the ATPase gene mRNA expression in CP was correlated with headache (P = 0.002), acral paraesthesias (P = 0.004) and CMS score (P < 0.001). ATP1A1 subunit expression was increased in all Andeans in Lima (P < 0.001). There were no differences between Andean controls in Lima and US controls. Manipulation of Na⁺/K⁺ATPase could offer relief for migraineurs at sea level.