dxy

美国研究人员称，他们已经发现一些遗传变异，该变异可影响抗抑郁药对患者的效果。研究发现，携带特定DNA的患者40%更易于对治疗作出反应。美国国家精神健康协会情绪和焦虑障碍遗传学机理的负责人，Francis McMahon教授，声称，虽然抗抑郁症的药物已经广泛应用，但还没有一种药物是对所有患者均有效的。此外，目前还很难预测哪些患者会出现有害或难受的副作用。

McMahon说，我们就是要更好得去理解情况为什么是这样的，并且通过应用遗传标记，实现个体化治疗，即给予患者最佳治疗方案。该研究纳入1900多名患有严重抑郁症的病人，患者使用抗抑郁药物、西酞普兰至少六周。研究者调查了68个基因的多态性（是DNA序列常见的变异）对于抗抑郁疗效和副作用的影响。

研究发现，负责调节5-羟色氨酸基因的多态性与疗效相关。携带两个拷贝多态性者较之没有携带双拷贝者对抗抑郁药的反应性高18%。其它两个基因（编码参与神经形成的一种蛋白基因和脑化学谷氨酸盐受体基因）的多态性，也对抗抑郁的疗效有影响。

同时携带上述三种与疗效相关多态性的患者较没有携带任何一种多态性的患者，抗抑郁药的反应性高40%。

该研究小组最终的目标是整和现有的遗传标记，用于指导治疗决策，并且帮助医生为每一位患者选择疗效最佳的抗抑郁药物。

Genes Can Impact Depression Treatment

Patients with specific DNA were 40 percent more likely to respond, study found

HealthDay
By Robert Preidt
Wednesday, December 6, 2006

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. researchers say they've spotted genetic variations that affect how patients respond to antidepressants.

"Medications to treat depression are widely available, but no one treatment works for everyone. Additionally, it can be difficult to predict which patients will experience harmful or unpleasant side effects," Dr. Francis McMahon, chief of Genetic Basis of Mood & Anxiety Disorders at the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health explained in a prepared statement.

"We are seeking to better understand why this is the case and, using genetic markers, develop personalized treatments that give patients the best chance at remission," McMahon said.

For this study, which included more than 1,900 people with major depression, researchers examined the effects that polymorphisms (common differences in DNA sequences) of 68 genes had on depression treatment effectiveness and side effects. The patients were treated with the antidepressant citalopram for at least six weeks.

Polymorphisms in a gene that regulated serotonin were associated with treatment outcome, the team found. People who carried two copies of the polymorphism were 18 percent more likely to respond to antidepressant treatment than patients who didn't have two copies, McMahon said.

Polymorphisms in two other genes -- a protein involved in neurogenesis and a receptor for the brain chemical glutamate -- also influenced the effectiveness of the antidepressant, the study said.

Patients with all three response-associated polymorphisms were 40 percent more likely to respond to treatment than patients with none of the polymorphisms.

The findings were slated for presentation Wednesday at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

"Ultimately, our goal is to put together a panel of genetic markers that can guide treatment decisions and help doctors choose an antidepressant that will work best for an individual patient," McMahon said.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_42266.html

编辑：蓝色幻想