MAOA gene polymorphisms and response to mirtazapine in major depression.
BACKGROUND
Polymorphisms in the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene may influence treatment outcomes in major depression disorder (MDD).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association of MAOA genetic polymorphisms and response to mirtazapine in patients with MDD.


METHODS
Fifty-eight adult patients in Taiwan who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria for MDD were given mirtazapine for 7 weeks and evaluated on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 49 using the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Remission was defined as a final HRSD <or= 10 and a 50% reduction in baseline HRSD score. Patients provided venous blood for DNA testing. The patients' response to mirtazapine treatment was compared between those who had the long-form polymorphism in the MAOA gene promoter and the short-form polymorphism.


RESULTS
The total HRSD scores after mirtazapine treatment were significantly lower than baseline (p < 0.001). There were 10 cases (38.5%) in short from and 6 (18.8%) in long from group touched the remission stage. Patients with the short-form group had a greater response to mirtazapine (p < 0.001) than those with the long-form polymorphism after controlling for age, sex, and apolipoprotein E genetic (APOE) polymorphism.


CONCLUSIONS
The genetic polymorphisms in the MAOA promoter region may be associated with treatment response to mirtazapine.
Tzeng
Dong-Sheng
DS
Department of Psychiatry, Military Kaohsiung General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. tzengds@seed.net.tw
Chien
Chia-Chang
CC
Lung
For-Wey
FW
Yang
Chun-Yuh
CY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000235:genetics*; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D008803:Mianserin; D004247:DNA; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase