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T102C and -1438 G/A polymorphisms of the 5-HT2A receptor gene in Turkish patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the possible association between T102C and -1438 G/A polymorphism in the 5-HT2A receptor gene and susceptibility to and clinical features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). METHOD Fifty-eight patients with OCD and 83 healthy controls were included in the study. All patients were interviewed and rated by Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. T102C and -1438 G/A polymorphisms of 5-HT2A receptor gene were determined by PCR technique in DNAs of peripheral leucocytes. RESULTS OCD patients and healthy controls did not show significant differences in genotype distribution for both polymorphisms investigated. We found that frequencies of the TT genotype for T102C polymorphism and the AA genotype for -1438 G/A polymorphism were significantly higher in patients with severe OCD compared to those with moderate or moderate-severe OCD. CONCLUSION The -1438 G/A and T102C polymorphisms of the 5-HT2A receptor gene are not associated with an increased risk of OCD. Our data suggest that the TT genotype of T102C and the AA genotype of -1438 G/A polymorphism might be a factor in clinical severity of OCD.

Primary fibromyalgia and depression: The role of relatives in fibromyalgia

Abstract Objective. To compare a group of patients suffering from fibromyalgia (FM) with patients having a lumbar disc hernia (LDH) and with a control group of healthy subjects. We investigate of the presence psychiatric disorders and their relationship with FM. Psychiatric disorders were also investigated in first and second degree relatives of patients with FM. Methods. Thirty-four patients suffering from FM according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria, 30 patients with lumbar disc hernia (LDH) without fibromyalgia and 43 healthy subjects were introduced into the study. All the groups were sex and age matched. All subjects were investigated by a structured clinical interview (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn), by Beck depression scale (BDS), and by Hamilton depression scale (HDS). Family history research diagnostic criteria were used. Results. The mean scores of BDS and of HDS were significantly higher in FM and LDH patients than in controls. In addition, ther...

Symptomatic hypotension with venlafaxine–benzodiazepine interaction

Venlafaxine is an effective antidepressant drug that is chemically distinct from other antidepressants. Alprazolam is a triazolobenzodiazepine and diazepam is a 2-ketobenzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are frequently co-administered with antidepressants, a fact that brings the problem of drug–drug interactions, because they are metabolized by various cytochrome pigment (CYP) 450 isoenzymes. We present three cases who developed symptomatic hypotension with co-administration of venlafaxine and benzodiazepines, namely, alprazolam and diazepam. In all cases, arterial blood pressure returned to normal with the discontinuation of pharmacological treatment. Although there is insufficient evidence, a substantial inhibition of CYP 3A3/4 by venlafaxine could result in a meaningful increase in plasma levels of venlafaxine, O-desmethylvenlafaxine, alprazolam and diazepam, particularly in patients who are CYP 2D6 deficient. A less likely explanation for the interaction between venlafaxine and benzodiazepines would be CYP 3A3/4 deficiency, which might potentiate the increase in plasma levels of benzodiazepines, thereby increasing their adverse effect potential. Combination of venlafaxine and benzodiazepines may increase the incidence and severity of adverse effects of both drugs.