Serotonin gene polymorphisms and psychiatry comorbidities in temporal lobe epilepsy

SummaryObjectiveNeuropsychiatric comorbidities are frequent in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). It is biologically plausible that alterations in serotonin-related genes may be involved in higher susceptibility to psychiatric disease in these individuals. Here we report results of an association study of serotonin gene polymorphisms and psychiatry comorbidities in TLE.MethodsCase-control study of 155 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. We evaluate the influence of 5-HTTLPR and 5-HTTVNTR polymorphisms in the 5-HTT gene and the C-1019G polymorphism in the 5-HT1A gene in psychiatric comorbidities of TLE.ResultsAfter logistic regression, female sex (OR = 2.34; 95% CI 1.06–5.17; p = 0.035) and the presence of C allele of 5-HT1A C-1019G polymorphism (OR = 2.77; 95% CI 1.01–7.63; p = 0.048) remained independent risk factors for anxiety disorders in temporal lobe epilepsy.ConclusionC allele of 5-HT1A C-1019G polymorphism might be an independent risk factor for anxiety disorders in temporal lobe epilepsy. We believe that other studies in this venue will shade some light on molecular mechanisms involved in psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy.