Serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphisms do not influence treatment response to escitalopram in patients with major depression

Several studies and meta-analyses have implicated a polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene, 5-HTTLPR in treatment outcomes of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors in patients with major depression. In this study we investigated the impact of 5-HTTLPR and a functional SNP rs25531 on the treatment outcomes to escitalopram in depressive patients. The study sample consisted of 135 outpatients with major depressive disorder (mean age 31.1 ± 11.6 years, 68% females) treated with escitalopram 10–20 mg/day for 12 weeks. There were no significant associations between 5-HTT promoter region polymorphisms and response rate or mean change of depressive symptoms during escitalopram treatment. However we showed that patients carrying S allele of 5-HTTLPR may have increased risk for some side effects, including headache, induced by escitalopram medication.