Posted by ben on July 1, 2005, at 12:05:20
In reply to Re: COMT Inhibitors for mood disorder?, posted by linkadge on June 30, 2005, at 22:11:13
Pharmacogenomics J. 2005;5(1):49-53.
The catechol-O-methyltransferase Val108/158Met polymorphism affects short-term treatment response to mirtazapine, but not to paroxetine in major depression.Szegedi A, Rujescu D, Tadic A, Muller MJ, Kohnen R, Stassen HH, Dahmen N.
Department of Psychiatry, Charite-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany. armin.szegedi@charite.de
The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a major degrading enzyme in the metabolic pathways of catecholaminergic neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine. This study investigated whether the functionally relevant Val(108/158)Met gene variant is associated with differential antidepressant response to mirtazapine and/or paroxetine in 102 patients with major depression (DSM-IV criteria) participating in a randomized clinical trial with both drugs. In patients treated with mirtazapine, but not paroxetine, allelic variations in the COMT gene were associated with differential response. COMT(VAL/VAL) and COMT(VAL/MET) genotype carriers showed a better response than COMT(MET/MET)-bearing patients in the mirtazapine group. Moreover, carriers of the COMT(VAL/VAL) or COMT(VAL/MET) genotype had significantly greater HAMD-17 (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression 17 item version) score reductions than COMT(MET/MET) homozygotes from week 2 to 6, respectively, in the mirtazapine group. Time course of response and antidepressant efficacy of mirtazapine, but not paroxetine, seem to be influenced in a clinically relevant manner by this allelic variation within the COMT gene.
PMID: 15520843 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
poster:ben
thread:521642
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050627/msgs/521952.html