The relationship between the serotonin 2A receptor gene -1438A/G and 102T/C polymorphisms and citalopram/sertraline-induced nausea in major depressed patients.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between the polymorphisms of -1438A/G and 102T/C in the 5-HT2A receptor (HTR2A) gene and nausea/vomiting as a side effect induced by sertraline (SERT) or citalopram (CIT) in patients with major depressive disorder.

Methods: A total of 128 patients were enrolled, 63 patients received CIT, whereas 65 patients were treated with SERT. Nausea/vomiting were assessed with the UKU Side-effects Rating Scale at baseline and at the end of the second and fourth weeks. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique was employed to determine genetic differences.

Results: We have found that, in the patients treated with CIT, there was a nominally significant difference in the genotypic distribution associated with -1438A/G polymorphism between patients with and without nausea (X  = 6.15, p = 0.041). Moreover, logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between nausea/vomiting as a side effect and -1438A/G polymorphism. That is, patients with the G allele were at a higher risk for developing nausea/vomiting (p = 0.044, odds ratio = 2.213). The 102T/C polymorphism in the HTR2A gene had no significant effect on the nausea/vomiting as a side effect among participants treated with either CIT or SERT.

Conclusion: The present study suggests the association of the HTR2A gene -1438A/G polymorphism with nausea/vomiting as a side effect related to CIT treatment.