The association between HTR2C polymorphisms and obesity in psychiatric patients using antipsychotics: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

The use of antipsychotics is associated with an increased risk of obesity. This consideration makes it important to search for determinants that can predict the risk for antipsychotic-induced obesity. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated whether polymorphisms in the HTR2C gene were associated with obesity (body mass index >30 kg/m2) in patients using antipsychotics. We examined polymorphisms in the promoter region of the HTR2C gene ((HTR2C:c.1-142948(GT)n, rs3813928 (-997 G/A), rs3813929 (-759 C/T), rs518147 (-697 G/C)) and an intragenic polymorphism (rs1414334:C>G). The results of the logistic regression were expressed as adjusted odds ratios (OR). In total, we included 127 patients mainly diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (89%). The results indicate that a combined genotype carrying the variant HTR2C:c.1-142948(GT)n 13 repeat allele, the common allele rs3813929 C, the variant allele rs518147 C and the variant allele rs1414334 C is significantly related to an increased risk of obesity (OR 3.71 (95% confidence interval: 1.24-11.12)).