Serotonin transporter gene polymorphism associated with short-term treatment response to venlafaxine.
BACKGROUND
Polymorphisms of serotonin transporter, especially serotonin transporter linked promoter region (5- HTTLPR) and serotonin transporter intron 2 variable number tandem repeat (5-HTTVNTR), have been suggested to be associated with treatment response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, there have been only few reports of the association between 5-HTTLPR or 5-HTTVNTR and treatment response to venlafaxine.


METHODS
84 Korean major depressive disorder patients were included in this study. They were administered 75 mg of venlafaxine XR (extended release) for 1 week and then took 150 mg for the next 3 weeks. All patients were evaluated at baseline and week 4 by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).


RESULTS
(1) Treatment response of depressive symptoms (BDI, HAM-D, MADRS) to venlafaxine at week 4 was associated with the non-s/s (l/l and l/s) genotype of 5-HTTLPR; (2) in repeated measures ANOVA, the BDI, MADRS and HAM-A scores decreased more significantly in patients with the non-s/s genotype than in those with the s/s genotype, and (3) multiple regression analyses suggested that the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is a predictive factor for short-term treatment response to venlafaxine. However, 5-HTTVNTR showed no significant association with treatment response to venlafaxine. Both 5-HTTLPR and 5-HTTVNTR were not associated with side effects of venlafaxine.


CONCLUSIONS
The 5-HTTLPR non-s/s genotype can be associated with venlafaxine treatment responses. However, further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm this finding.
Lee
Sang-Hyuk
SH
Department of Psychiatry, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea.
Choi
Tae Kyou
TK
Lee
Eun
E
Seok
Jeong-Ho
JH
Lee
Sung Hee
SH
Lee
Hong Shick
HS
Kim
Se Joo
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
D003511:Cyclohexanols; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human