Dopamine D3 receptor variant and tardive dyskinesia

In the search for genetic factors contributing to tardive dyskinesia, dopamine receptor genes are considered major candidates. The dopamine D3 receptor is of primary interest as dopamine D3 receptor knock-out mice show locomotor hyperactivation resembling extrapyramidal side-effects of neuroleptic treatment. Furthermore, Steen and colleagues (1997) recently reported an association between tardive dyskinesia and a dopamine D3 receptor gene variant. In the present study we tried to replicate this finding. We investigated 157 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder receiving long-term neuroleptic medication who never or persistently displayed tardive dyskinesia. As advanced age is a main risk factor for tardive dyskinesia, we also compared older patients with a long duration of schizophrenia not displaying tardive dyskinesia to younger patients with a shorter duration of the illness displaying tardive dyskinesia. However, we found no evidence that the dopamine D3 receptor gene is likely to confer susceptibility to the development of tardive dyskinesia.