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MAOA gene polymorphisms and response to mirtazapine in major depression
Dong-Sheng Tzeng1, Chia-Chang Chien, For-Wey Lung
1Department of Psychiatry, Military Kaohsiung General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. tzengds@seed.net.tw
Background:
Polymorphisms in the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene may influence treatment outcomes in major depression disorder (MDD).
Objective:
To investigate the association of MAOA genetic polymorphisms and response to mirtazapine in patients with MDD.
Method:
Fifty-eight adult patients in Taiwan who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria for MDD were given mirtazapine for 7 weeks and evaluated on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 49 using the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Remission was defined as a final HRSD
Result:
The total HRSD scores after mirtazapine treatment were significantly lower than baseline (p < 0.001). There were 10 cases (38.5%) in short from and 6 (18.8%) in long from group touched the remission stage. Patients with the short-form group had a greater response to mirtazapine (p < 0.001) than those with the long-form polymorphism after controlling for age, sex, and apolipoprotein E genetic (APOE) polymorphism.
Conclusion:
The genetic polymorphisms in the MAOA promoter region may be associated with treatment response to mirtazapine.
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