Pharmacogenetic approach at the serotonin transporter gene as a method of reducing the severity of alcohol drinking.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Severe drinking can cause serious morbidity and death. Because the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) is an important regulator of neuronal 5-HT function, allelic differences at that gene may modulate the severity of alcohol consumption and predict therapeutic response to the 5-HT(3) receptor antagonist, ondansetron.

Method

The authors randomized 283 alcoholics by genotype in the 5'-regulatory region of the 5-HTT gene (LL/LS/SS), with additional genotyping for another functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (T/G), rs1042173, in the 3'-untranslated region, in a double-blind controlled trial. Participants received either ondansetron (4 μg/kg twice daily) or placebo for 11 weeks, plus standardized cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Results

Individuals with the LL genot

SUBMITTER: Johnson BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3063997 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature