Original Article

Association Between the 5-HTTLPR Polymorphism and Response to Citalopram in Turkish Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

  • Zuhal UCKUN
  • Bora BASKAK
  • Hatice OZDEMIR
  • Erguvan Tugba OZEL-KIZIL
  • Halise DEVRIMCI OZGUVEN
  • Halit Sinan SUZEN

Received Date: 08.10.2015 Accepted Date: 24.12.2015 Turk J Pharm Sci 2016;13(2):145-158

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the genetic polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and the response to citalopram treatment and side effects in Turkish patients with major depressive disorder. The study involved 51 patients who received 10-40 mg/day of citalopram for 4 to 6 weeks. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating (HAMD-17) scale, Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and UKU side effect rating scale (UKU) at weeks 4 and/or 6. The 5-HTTLPRL/S polymorphism was determined by slowdown-polymerase chain reaction method. Of the fifty-one pati-ents, 13 (26%) were the LL genotype, 21 (41%) were the LS genotype, 17 (33%) were the SS genotype. L allele se-ems to be associated with better response due to odds ratio for L allele versus S allele despite statistically insignifi-cant. In terms of CGI-Severity scale, The LL genotype versus the LS genotype had a higher risk at the week 6.

Keywords: 5-HTTLPR polymorphism, Citalopram, Treatment response, Side effects