Association of the dopamine transporter gene with alcoholism.

Abstract

AIMS:

It was investigated whether the allele A9 of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1; SLC6A3) is associated with alcoholism, delirium tremens (DT), alcohol withdrawal seizures (AWS), or the daily alcohol intake.

METHODS:

A group of 102 healthy subjects and 216 alcoholics, including 97 patients with a history of mild withdrawal symptoms, 65 with a history of AWS and 83 with a history of DT were genotyped and personal data were achieved for statistical evaluation in a case-control design.

RESULTS:

The frequency of individuals carrying the allele A9 [f(A9+)] was significantly higher (P = 0.01) in the group of alcoholics [f(A9+) = 0.48] compared with healthy controls [f(A9+) = 0.32]. There was no significant association of the allele A9 with severe withdrawal symptoms or the daily amount of alcohol consumed.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results reveal that the allele A9 is strongly associated with alcoholism but not with withdrawal symptoms or daily alcohol intake.

• Authors: Michael D Köhnke, Anil Batra, Werner Kolb, Annette M Köhnke, Ulrich Lutz, Sandra Schick, Ines Gaertner
• Journal: Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) (Alcohol Alcohol) 2005 Sep-Oct Vol. 40 Issue 5 Pg. 339-42 ISSN: 0735-0414 [Print] England
• PMID: 15996968 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
• SLC6A3 protein, human

Topics

• Adult
• Alcohol Drinking (genetics)
• Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium (genetics)
• Alcoholism (genetics)
• Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins (genetics)
• Female
• Gene Frequency
• Genetic Carrier Screening
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease (genetics)
• Genotype
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Minisatellite Repeats (genetics)
• Polymorphism, Genetic (genetics)
• Reference Values