Association between -1438G/A Promoter Polymorphism in the 5-HT2A Receptor Gene and Fluvoxamine Response in Japanese Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Genetic polymorphism of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor seems to be associated with therapeutic response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The present study investigated whether a novel –1438G/A polymorphism in the promoter region of the 5-HT2A receptor gene is associated with therapeutic response to fluvoxamine (an SSRI) in 66 Japanese patients with major depressive disorder. Fluvoxamine (50 to 200 mg) was administered twice daily for 6 weeks. Fifty-four patients completed this study. The genotype distribution and the allele frequencies showed no significant difference between responders and non-responders. The time-course of the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale scores showed no significant difference among –1438G/G, –1438G/A, and –1438A/A genotype groups. The results demonstrated that the –1438G/A promoter polymorphism in the 5-HT2A receptor gene was unlikely to have a major role in therapeutic response to fluvoxamine in Japanese patients with major depressive disorder.

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