Lack of association between 71 variations located in candidate genes and response to acute haloperidol treatment

Abstract

The antipsychotic pharmacological treatment effectiveness and side effects are at least partially driven by the genetic personal background. In the present study, 71 genetic variations located in 21 candidate genes were investigated as modulators of the haloperidol efficacy and side effects in a sample of 101 acutely ill psychotic patients. Patients were assessed at days0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) test) and days1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 (UKU, BAS, and ESRS tests). Haloperidol plasma levels were measured at the same timepoints. None of the 71 variations were associated with response to treatment or with incidence of side effects passed a multiple testing threshold. A marginal association was detected between two haplotypes within the signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 gene and PANSS positive and dopamine beta-hydroxylase with PANSS negative scores (p = 0.004 and p = 0.008, respectively). In conclusion, no major association was observed between the investigated variations and the efficacy profile of haloperidol.