Approche pharmacogénétique de la réponse aux antipsychotiques chez les schizophrènes

In future, a combination of several polymorphisms showing a strong association with a specific neuroleptic response could constitute a clinical test to predict the individual response to such treatment, and therefore participate in the prescription process. A research team has already proposed a combination of six polymorphisms implicating 5-HT2A receptor, 5-HT2C receptor, 5-HTTLPR, and H2 receptor genes [Lancet 355 (2000) 1615-1616], but this result has to be replicated. Until now, pharmacogenetics has focused on the global clinical response, but in the years to come, it could focus on the genes implied in the effects of treatments on specific symptoms and on physiological mechanisms that would explain how gene polymorphism can influence therapeutic response. This review aims to summarise recent advances and to present future clinical applications for pharmacogenetics.