The Relationship between Taq I A Dopamine D2 Receptor Polymorphism and Therapeutic Response to Antipsychotics in Schizophrenic Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In an attempt to predict the interpersonal differences of therapeutic response to antipsychotic drugs on pharmaco-genetic bases, this study was designed to investigate the relationship between the therapeutic response to antipsychotic drugs and Taq I A dopamine D2 receptor polymorphism in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: The subjects were 158 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia(DSM-IV). The therapeutic response to antipsychotic drugs was evaluated using the Treatment Response Scale(TRS) retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups, dopamine receptor antagonist responders, and serotonin-dopamine antagonist responders. The patients' Taq I A dopamine D2 receptor polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP). RESULTS: The dopamine receptor antagonist responders had the A1 allele in significantly higher incidences (chi2(1)=4.875, p=0.027, two-tailed). No significant difference was found among the serotonin-dopamine antagonist responders between those with or without the A1 allele. CONCLUSIONS: The patients with the A1 allele responded better to dopamine receptor antagonists than those with no A1 allele. Based on these results, it is suggested that the pharmacological effect of dopamine receptor antagonists can be predicted depending on the presence of the A1 allele in schizophrenic patients.