Determination of the relationship between craving and 4-repeat allele of dopamine D4 receptor gene polymorphism in early withdrawal period of alcohol use disorders

Abstract

Objective Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a disease with chronic relapses. Risk factors of craving, which is thought to be one of the predictors of relapse, have been studied for a long time. The DRD4 gene is located on chromosome 11p and has a 48-base pair variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms in the 3rd exon. This study aimed to investigate if a relationship existed between craving and DRD4 VNTR polymorphism and to determine the predictors of craving. Methods A total of 125 patients with AUD were included in the study. The sociodemographic data form, the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS), and the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) were applied to the patients. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the DRD4 VNTR variant of all participants in the peripheral blood sample. Results In the 4R/4R homozygous group, it was found that the age at first alcohol use was higher and the scores of the OCDS on the seventh day were lower, but this relationship could not be demonstrated in further statistical analyses. In the stepwise linear regression model, the age at first alcohol use, MAST score, duration of AUD, and delirium tremens history were found to be the predictors of craving. Conclusion DRD4 VNTR polymorphism does not play a role as a predictor of craving. A decrease in age at first alcohol use, an increase in the MAST score, and the presence of delirium tremens were found to be the predictors of craving among the participants of this study.

Cortical thickness of the inferior parietal lobule as a potential predictor of relapse in men with alcohol dependence

“…Laniepce et al 2020). Moreover, in another study, it was suggested that younger age at rst drink and the presence of delirium during acute withdrawal predicted more severe alcohol cravings(Kaya et al 2021). The results of our study did not support the opinion of relapse to drinking associated with clinically signi cant impairment (e.g., age at rst drink, drinking in the morning, family history of alcoholism, presence of delirium or seizures, and mean daily drinks), except for the age of onset.…”