engleski

The association of rs13212041 polymorphism in 5-HT1B receptor gene and akathisia in haloperidol-treated patients with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious chronic psychiatric disorder with neurobiological basis still unclear. Some patients do not respond satisfactorily to antipsychotics, while others develop extrapyramidal side-effects (EPS). In addition to the dopaminergic system, serotonergic mechanisms might be also involved in EPS, either by the effects on dopamine release or via serotonergic receptors. The aim of the study was to examine the association of 5-HT1B receptor gene with acute EPS in 200 male schizophrenic patients following 2 weeks haloperidol therapy. Simpson Angus Rating Scale for Extrapyramidal Side Effects (SAS), Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS) and Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale (ESRS) were used to evaluate the EPS severity in schizophrenia-diagnosed patients (DSM-IV criteria). Genotyping of rs13212041 polymorphism in 5-HT1B receptor gene was performed using Real-Time PCR following extraction of blood DNA. The results were evaluated using chi2 test and Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn’s Multiple Comparison test. EPS appeared in 52.5 %, akathisia in 22.5 %, acute dystonia in 18.5 % and dyskinesia in 32.0 % patients with schizophrenia. The results demonstrated no differences in the genotype frequencies of 5-HT1B receptor gene polymorphism between patients subdivided according to EPS, acute dystonia and dyskinesia. However, the distribution of rs13212041 genotypes was significantly different between schizophrenia patients subdivided according to akathisia, suggesting higher frequency of TT genotype carriers in patients with akathisia. In line with this finding, patients carrying TT genotype had significantly higher BARS scores when compared to carriers of CC genotype. These results suggest potential involvement of serotonergic system in the development of akathisia following haloperidol treatment.

schizophrenia; haloperidol; extrapyramidal side-effects; 5-HT1B receptor gene; rs13212041 polymorphism

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