Association between the 5-HTTLPR Polymorphism of the Serotonin Transporter Gene with the Efficiency and Tolerability of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

5HTTLPR Genetic Variant and Major Depressive Disorder: A Review

“…Experimental evidence has demonstrated the relationship between the 5HTTLPR genetic variant and the pharmacotherapy used by MDD patients [27,36]. The strong relationship of the L allele with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) has been seen in studies of different populations [18,36,38,76], as well as the S allele relationship with SSRIs [25,[77][78][79][80].…”

“…Ivanets et al [78], in a Russian study, sought to verify the influence of the 5HTTLPR-VNTR variant in determining depressive disorder remission levels and the risk of developing side effects during SSRIs use. In this study, SS genotype participants had an inadequate response to the treatment compared to the other genotypes of this variant (p = 0.11), their MDD remission level was significantly worse (p = 0.05), and developed the most severe side effects (p = 0.02) [78,80].…”

“…Ivanets et al [78], in a Russian study, sought to verify the influence of the 5HTTLPR-VNTR variant in determining depressive disorder remission levels and the risk of developing side effects during SSRIs use. In this study, SS genotype participants had an inadequate response to the treatment compared to the other genotypes of this variant (p = 0.11), their MDD remission level was significantly worse (p = 0.05), and developed the most severe side effects (p = 0.02) [78,80]. In another study [77], the S allele presence in the 5HTTLPR-VNTR variant was associated with the low efficacy of antidepressants in depressed women compared to men and, although they sought to find answers to this difference in clinical and demographic characteristics, no data could explain the low drug efficacy.…”