title: Serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphisms do not influence treatment response to escitalopram in patients with major depression.
abstract: Several studies and meta-analyses have implicated a polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene, 5-HTTLPR in treatment outcomes of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors in patients with major depression. In this study we investigated the impact of 5-HTTLPR and a functional SNP rs25531 on the treatment outcomes to escitalopram in depressive patients. The study sample consisted of 135 outpatients with major depressive disorder (mean age 31.1+/-11.6 years, 68% females) treated with escitalopram 10-20 mg/day for 12 weeks. There were no significant associations between 5-HTT promoter region polymorphisms and response rate or mean change of depressive symptoms during escitalopram treatment. However we showed that patients carrying S allele of 5-HTTLPR may have increased risk for some side effects, including headache, induced by escitalopram medication.
authors.affiliation: Research Department of Mental Health, North Estonia Medical Centre Foundation, Psychiatry Clinic, Tallinn, Estonia. Eduard.Maron@kliinikum.ee
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maron
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tammiste
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kallassalu
authors.forename: Triin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eller
authors.forename: Veiko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vasar
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nutt
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Metspalu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015283:Citalopram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D015283:Citalopram