The serotonin transporter gene polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility and the pain severity in Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia patients

BACKGROUND: To investigate the possible association between the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR) and rs 25531 polymorphism and the susceptibility and the pain severity in Trigeminal Neuralgia patients. METHODS: A total of 244 TN patients and 280 age and sex matched healthy volunteer were recruited. 5-HTTLPR and rs 25531 genotyping were performed. All patients received the carbamazepine treatment and the treatment response was evaluated at 6 months. RESULTS: The genotype distribution of 5-HTTLPR between TN patients and controls were significantly different. The TN Patients had a higher prevalence of short-short genotype than controls. The short-short genotype carriers are also significantly associated with higher pain severity and poorer carbamazepine treatment response compared to the long-long genotype carriers. In contrast, the rs 25531 polymorphism was not associated with the susceptibility to TN, neither with the pain severity and the treat response to carbamazepine. CONCLUSION: The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility to TN and pain severity of TN.