The Effect of Single Dose Methylphenidate on Neurometabolites according to COMT Gene Val158Met Polymorphism in the Patient with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Study Using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the effects of a single dose of methylphenidate (Mph) on neurometabolite levels according to polymorphisms of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene.


METHODS
This study evaluated the neurometabolite levels including N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), and choline (Cho) of ADHD patients, before and after treatment with Mph (10 mg) according to the presence of COMT polymorphisms. The spectra were obtained from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), cerebellum, and striatum.


RESULTS
The NAA levels of the val/val and val genotype carriers (val/val and val/met genotypes) increased in the DLPFC and ACC, respectively, following Mph treatment. The NAA/Cr ratio was lower in the DLPFC of val carriers than in the met/met genotype carriers prior to Mph administration. The Cho levels of the val/met genotype and val carriers increased in the striatum following Mph treatment. Following Mph treatment, the Cr levels of the met/met genotype carriers were higher than those of the val/met genotype and val carriers. Additionally, after Mph treatment, there was a significant increase in Cr levels in the DLPFC of the met/met genotype carriers but a significant decrease in such levels in the striatum of val/val genotype carriers.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that polymorphisms of the COMT gene can account for individual differences in neurochemical responses to Mph among ADHD patients. Therefore, further studies are needed to fully characterize the effects of the Val158met polymorphism of the COMT gene on treatment outcomes in patients with ADHD.
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
Onder
O
Ozturk
Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
Huseyin
H
Alacam
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
Burge Kabukcu
BK
Basay
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
Omer
O
Basay
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
Ahmet
A
Buber
Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Medical Faculty, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
Ozlem Izci
OI
Ay
Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli.
Kadir
K
Agladıoglu
Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Medical Faculty, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
Mehmet Emin
ME
Erdal
Department of Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
Hasan
H
Herken
Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity; Catechol-O-methyltransferase; Methylphenidate; Neurometabolite