Serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and antidepressant response

We examined allelic polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene and antidepressant response to 6 weeks' treatment with the selective serot onin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs fluoxetine or paroxetine. We genotyped 120 patients and 252 normal controls, using polymerase chain reaction of g enomic DNA with primers flanking the second intron and promoter regions of the 5-HTT gene. Diagnosis of depression was not associated with 5-HTT polym orphisms. Patients homozygous 1/1 in intron2 or homozygous sis in the promo ter region showed better responses than all others (p<0.0001, p=0.0074, res pectively). Lack of the 1/1 allele form in intron 2 most powerfully predict ed non-response (83.3%). Response to SSRI drugs is related to allelic varia tion in the 5-HTT gene in depressed Korean patients. NeuroReport 11:215-219 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.