Association of norepinephrine transporter gene with methylphenidate response.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to explore the association between alleles of the norepinephrine transporter gene and the methylphenidate response.


METHODS
Chinese Han youths with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder recruited in the Outpatient Department of the Institute of Mental Health from 2001 to 2004 were treated with methylphenidate in doses of 0.45 to 0.60 mg/kg per day. Behavior changes were measured by the ADHD Rating Scale-IV when optimal doses were reached. The single-nucleotide polymorphic allele of norepinephrine transporter gene G1287A was used as the genetic marker, and the genotypes were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.


RESULTS
A significant association was found between norepinephrine transporter gene G1287A genotypes and response to methylphenidate for hyperactive-impulsive subscale scores (mean score reduction was 7.15 and 6.94 for G/G and G/A genotype, respectively, and 2.13 for A/A; p = .012) but not inattentive scores.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest an association between the G1287A polymorphism of the norepinephrine transporter gene and variation in methylphenidate response. Further work is needed to confirm this finding and to assess its generalization to other ethnic groups.
Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, China.
Li
L
Yang
Yu-Feng
YF
Wang
Jun
J
Li
Stephen V
SV
Faraone
D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate