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Any familial or sporadic hemiplegic migraine in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the SCN1A gene.
Features include always present findings: Migraine with aura; and very common findings: Photophobia and Phonophobia. 7 total HPO annotations.
Data assembled from 6 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 19, 2026, 3:01 PM UTC
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man
Genetic and Rare Diseases Info Center
Organ System | Phenotype Count | Example Features |
|---|---|---|
Brain and nerves | 3 | Hemiplegia, Seizure, Migraine with aura |
Eyes | 1 | Blindness |
In migraine with aura, including familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), the neurologic symptoms of aura are unequivocally localizable to the cerebral cortex or brain stem and include fully reversible visual disturbance (most common), sensory loss (e.g., numbness or paresthesias of the face or an extremity), and dysphasia (difficulty with speech), and for FHM must include motor involvement (e.g., hemiparesis [weakness of an extremity]):
Visual disturbances can include scotoma (blind spots), photopsia (flashing lights), fortification spectra (zigzag pattern), and diplopia (double vision).
Dysphasia usually occurs when hemiplegia is right-sided.
Hemiparesis (unilateral weakness), not necessarily hemiplegia (unilateral paralysis), occurs with at least one other symptom during FHM aura.
Source: GeneReviews — "Familial Hemiplegic Migraine"
SCN1A function has not been fully characterized.
Migraine, familial hemiplegic, 3 is associated with mutations in the SCN1A gene on chromosome 2.
ATP1A2
A severe phenotype with seizures, coma, and elevated temperature has been reported with the pathogenic variant in ATP1A2 .
A severe phenotype with seizures and intellectual disability has been reported with the pathogenic variants and .
CACNA1A. Although further correlation is needed, some suggestive genotype-phenotype correlations exist based on limited data regarding CACNA1A pathogenic variants commonly presenting with nystagmus and other cerebellar signs .
Source: GeneReviews — "Familial Hemiplegic Migraine"
Penetrance appears to be high and is estimated at 80% .
Source: GeneReviews — "Familial Hemiplegic Migraine"
Consensus clinical diagnostic criteria for familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) have been published by the (full text).
FHM is a category of migraine with aura. Note: Migraine with aura is a recurring disorder of neurologic symptoms unequivocally localizable to the cerebral cortex or brain stem. The aura usually develops over a period of five to 20 minutes and lasts less than 60 minutes. Headache, nausea, and/or photophobia usually follow neurologic aura symptoms, either immediately or after a symptom-free interval of less than an hour. The headache usually lasts four to 72 hours but may be completely absent (acephalgic migraine).
Diagnostic criteria for HM
Source: GeneReviews — "Familial Hemiplegic Migraine"
Migraine without aura (OMIM 157300) (common migraine) is an idiopathic, recurring headache disorder manifesting in attacks lasting four to 72 hours. Typical characteristics of the headache are unilateral location, pulsating quality, moderate or severe intensity, aggravation by routine physical activity, and association with nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia. This headache occurs without neurologic aura symptoms and specifically without hemiparesis. Hemiplegia. The differential diagnosis of hemiplegia includes post-ictal weakness following seizure, transient ischemic attack, stroke, and other non-genetic causes of transient hemiparesis. Stroke.
Source: GeneReviews — "Familial Hemiplegic Migraine"
Genetic testing for SCN1A is available. Testing is considered confirmatory for diagnosis.
Biomarker and diagnostic research for migraine, familial hemiplegic, 3 has been reported in the published literature.
No approved treatments are currently available for migraine, familial hemiplegic, 3. The disease remains an area of unmet medical need.
Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) or simplex hemiplegic migraine (i.e., individuals with an FHM-causing pathogenic variant and an apparently negative family history), the evaluations summarized in this (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to the diagnosis) are recommended. Table 4. Recommended Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis in Individuals with Familial Hemiplegic Migraine System/Concern | Evaluation Neurologic | • Quantitative eye movement exam in persons w/nystagmus or complaints of incoordination or imbalance to look for additional clues of cerebellar involvement • EEG neuroimaging studies if seizures are present in order to further characterize seizure disorder • Neuroimaging studies in those w/impaired responsiveness to assess for cerebral edema Assess for movement disorder in those w/PRRT2-FHM Genetic counseling | By genetics professionals1 to obtain a pedigree inform affected persons their families re nature, MOI, implications of FHM in order to facilitate medical personal decision making Family support resources | Assess need for: • Community or such as Parent to Parent; • Social work involvement for parental support; • Home nursing referral. FHM = familial hemiplegic migraine; MOI = mode of inheritance 1. Medical geneticist, certified genetic counselor, certified advanced genetic nurse Treatment of Manifestations Symptomatic support during an episode of hemiplegic migraine is the only therapy available. Table 5. Treatment of Manifestations in Individuals with Familial Hemiplegic Migraine
Manifestation/Concern | Treatment | Considerations/Other |
|---|---|---|
Seizures | Anti-seizure treatment | — |
Cerebral edema | Corticosteroids in children w/cerebral edema to reduce life-threatening manifestations | ASM = anti-seizure medication Surveillance Table 6. |
Recommended Surveillance for Individuals with Familial Hemiplegic Migraine System/Concern | Evaluation | Frequency |
Neurologic | Eval by neurologist to assess change in attack frequency /or seizures, development of movement disorder, developmental delay, /or learning disability | Annually or more frequently for worsening symptoms Agents/Circumstances to Avoid In general, vasoconstricting agents should be avoided because of the risk of stroke. Cerebral angiography is hazardous as it may precipitate a severe attack . |
Source: GeneReviews — "Familial Hemiplegic Migraine"
In general, vasoconstricting agents should be avoided because of the risk of stroke. Cerebral angiography is hazardous as it may precipitate a severe attack .
Source: GeneReviews — "Familial Hemiplegic Migraine"
Search ClinicalTrials.gov in the US and EU Clinical Trials Register in Europe for access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Note: There may not be clinical trials for this disorder.
Source: GeneReviews — "Familial Hemiplegic Migraine"
View trials for migraine, familial hemiplegic, 3
Table 6.
Recommended Surveillance for Individuals with Familial Hemiplegic Migraine
System/Concern | Evaluation | Frequency
| Eval by neurologist to assess change in attack frequency /or seizures, development of movement disorder, developmental delay, /or learning disability | Annually or more frequently for worsening symptoms
Source: GeneReviews — "Familial Hemiplegic Migraine"
Phenotype severity distribution: 1 always present feature, 2 very common features.
No clinical trials have been registered for migraine, familial hemiplegic, 3.
197 publications have been identified in PubMed for migraine, familial hemiplegic, 3. Kisho has analyzed 142 by research type. Research spans Basic Science / Preclinical (26%), Epidemiology / Natural History (26%), and Review / Meta-Analysis (23%).
Research Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Laboratory research | 37 | 26% |
Disease patterns and progression | 37 | 26% |
Research summaries | 32 | 23% |
Patient case studies | 20 | 14% |
Clinical study results | 7 | 5% |
New treatment approaches | 4 | 3% |
Testing and diagnosis research | 3 | 2% |
Other research | 2 | 1% |
Dlugos DJ (2026). [PMID: 41133912](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41133912/). *Epilepsia*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Li N (2026). [PMID: 40808385](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40808385/). *Neural regeneration research*. [Gene Therapy / Novel Therapeutics]
Romozzi M (2026). [PMID: 41618146](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41618146/). *The journal of headache and pain*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Balestrini S (2026). [PMID: 41712149](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41712149/). *CNS drugs*. [Clinical Trial Publication]
Morison LD (2026). [PMID: 40379967](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40379967/). *European journal of human genetics : EJHG*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Hotz JF (2026). [PMID: 41589756](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41589756/). *European journal of neurology*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Philliben RF (2026). [PMID: 40657899](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40657899/). *Journal of clinical neurophysiology : official publication of the American Electroencephalographic Society*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Li XL (2026). [PMID: 41788412](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41788412/). *Frontiers in genetics*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]
Leitão E (2026). [PMID: 41912934](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41912934/). *Nat Genet*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Lu W (2026). [PMID: 41748585](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41748585/). *Nat Commun*. [Basic Science / Preclinical]