Influence of DRD2 and ANKK1 polymorphisms on the manifestation of withdrawal syndrome symptoms in alcohol addiction.

BACKGROUND We investigated the relationship between withdrawal syndrome symptoms and dopamine receptor 2 DRD2 gene polymorphisms-141 C I/D (rs1799732) exon 8 G/A (rs6276) and ANKK1 (Ankyrin Repeat and Kinase Domain Containing 1) gene polymorphism Taq1A (rs1800497). MATERIAL A total number of 213 patients who met the ICD 10 criteria for given phenotypes were enrolled in the study. Those phenotypes included: dissocial personality disorder, early onset, alcohol withdrawal syndrome with seizures, alcohol withdrawal syndrome with delirium tremens, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome with seizures and delirium tremens. RESULTS Our results show statistically significant associations between SNP in exon 8 A/G in the DRD2 gene and alcohol withdrawal syndrome with seizures, and between SNP in promoter -141 C I/D in the DRD2 gene and early onset of alcohol dependence (AD). The A/A genotype in exon 8 A/G polymorphism seems to be a positive predictive factor for the presence or the lack of seizures in alcohol withdrawal syndrome. The A/G genotype is possibly a protective factor for this AD phenotype. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that both investigated DRD2 polymorphisms have an impact on the AD phenotype. The findings of the presented study reconfirm that dopamine receptor 2 gene polymorphisms are associated with alcohol addiction and alcohol withdrawal syndrome.