Pharmacogenetics of antipsychotic drugs

Abstract

Pharmacogenetic studies concentrate on the interactions between the genetic factors and the patient’s individual response to therapy. This paper reviews the pharmacogenetic studies of antipsychotic drugs and the associations of single genes polymorphism and it influence on the pharmacotherapy. The studies revealed the interactions between the polymorphisms in the dopaminergic (DRD2, DRD3) and serotoninergic systems (5HT2A, 5HT2C), CYP2D6 and the clinical drug action profiles. Very few papers exist on the multiple gene associations studies. Four genotypes (5HT2A, 5HT2C, 5HTT, H2) enable the physician to predict the clozapine therapy outcomes in 76% of cases. The predictive significance of genes associated with dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems was revealed in olanzapine therapy. It has to be emphasised that multiple non-genetic factors contribute to the outcome of pharmacotherapy.