title: Is 5-HTTLPR linked to the response of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in MDD?
abstract: The role of a functional polymorphism in the transcriptional control region of serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR, SERTPR) has been studied intensively in major depression and in the response to selective serotonin inhibitors (SSRIs) in major depression. The findings have been contradictory, although majority of the studies indicate that the short allele is associated with poor response to SSRIs in major depression. In the present study, we evaluated the association of 5-HTTLPR with treatment response to SSRI medication in Finnish Caucasian MDD patients. A secondary purpose was to study the possible association of this particular polymorphism with major depressive disorder. The aim of the study was to replicate the previous findings in this area. Primary outcomes of the treatment were remission, defined by an exit score of seven or less, and response, defined by a reduction of at least 50% on the MADRS. We had also a control population of 375 healthy blood donors, as a secondary objective was to evaluate the possible association of this particular polymorphism with major depressive disorder. Twenty-nine of the 85 (34.1%) patients reached the remission and 58.8% achieved the predefined response criteria. The l/l genotype of 5-HTTLPR was presented in 51.7% of those patients who achieved remission vs. 25.0% in the non-remitters (P = 0.03). The result remained statistically significant after adjusting for age, gender, medication and MADRS points at the study entry. However, the small sample size limits the reliability of this result.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Tampere, 33014 Tampere, Finland. ari.illi@uta.fi
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Illi
authors.forename: Outi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Poutanen
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Setälä-Soikkeli
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kampman
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viikki
authors.forename: Heini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huhtala
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mononen
authors.forename: Susann
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haraldsson
authors.forename: Pasi A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Koivisto
authors.forename: Esa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leinonen
authors.forename: Terho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehtimäki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human