title: [Association studies of dopamine D4 receptor gene exon 3 in patients with alcohol dependence].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) exon 3 polymorphisms (48 bp VNTR) in the pathogenesis of alcoholism. This polymorphism was investigated in the association study in a whole group of alcoholics (n = 122) and in homogenous overlapping subgroups: 1) with early age of onset of alcoholism (AOO < or = 26 years) (n = 65) and 2) with a co-occurrence of dissocial personality disorder (n = 38), and 3) in patients with a history of delirium tremens and/or alcohol seizures (n = 41). The control group consisted of healthy volunteers, gender and age matched, with excluded psychiatric disorders (n = 399).
  
  
  METHODS
  The history of alcoholism was investigated using SSAGA (Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism - Polish version). The DRD4 receptor exon 3 polymorphism was determined using PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significant differences in the short alleles (2-5 VNTR) frequencies between controls and patients with a history of delirium tremens and/or alcohol seizures (p = 0.043). A trend was also observed in the higher frequency of short alleles amongst individuals with an early age of onset of alcoholism (p = 0.063).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that inherited short variants of DRD4 alleles may play role in pathogenesis of alcohol dependence.
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Psychiatrii Pomorskiej AM w Szczecinie.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grzywacz
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kucharska-Mazur
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samochowiec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000235:genetics*; D020270:Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures / Q000235:genetics; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics*; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4