To investigate the migraine locus around the C19p13 region through analysis of 
the NOTCH3 gene (C19p13.2-p13.1), previously shown to be a gene involved in 
CADASIL and the TNFSF7 gene (C19p13), homologous to the ligands of TNF-alpha and 
TNF-beta, genes that have previously been associated with migraine. The NOTCH3 
gene was analysed by sequencing all exons with known CADASIL mutations in a 
typical (non-familial hemiplegic) migraine family (MF1) that has previously been 
shown to be linked to C19p13. The TNFSF7 gene was investigated through SNP 
association analysis using a matched case-control migraine population. NOTCH3 
gene sequencing results for affected members of MF1 proved to be negative for 
all known sequence variants giving rise to mutations for CADASIL. TNFSF7 gene 
chi-square results showed non-significant P values across all populations tested 
against controls, except for the MO subgroup which displayed a possible 
association with the TNFSF7 SNP (genotype, allele analysis P = 0.036, P = 0.017 
respectively). Our results suggest that common migraine is not caused by any 
known CADASIL mutations in the NOTCH3 gene of interest. However, the TNFSF7 gene 
displayed signs of involvement in a MO affected population and indicates that 
further independent studies of this marker are warranted.