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.