Serotonin transporter gene polymorphism in slow transit constipation / 中华胃肠外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between the polymorphism of serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region(5-HTTLPR) and slow transit constipation(STC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction was used to assess 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of SERT gene in 54 patients with STC and 100 healthy controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of serotonin transporter short/short(S/S) and allele S genotypes were significantly higher in STC patients than those in controls(72.2% vs 50.0%; 83.3% vs 72.5%; both P< 0.05). There were no significant differences in 5-HTTLPR polymorphism respectively between the two groups according to gender and age(less than 45 and more than 45 years old). The frequency of S/S genotype was higher in the patients with less than 40% of the ingested markers evacuated within 72 h than those with more than 40% evacuated(71.7% vs 42.6%, P< 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The presence of 5-HTTLPR allele S may contribute to the pathogenesis of STC.</p>