Resumen de El polimorfismo 5-HTTLPR y el intento suicida en adolescentes deprimidos

Emmanuel I. Sarmiento Hernández, Rosa Elena Ulloa Flores, Mirna Esthela Brenes Prats, Beatriz Camarena M., Alejandro Aguilar García, Sandra Hernández Muñoz

• español

  La Organización Mundial de la Salud reporta que el suicidio es la tercera causa de muerte más frecuente para jóvenes de 15 a 24 años de edad y la sexta causa de muerte para niños de cinco a 14 años de edad.

  Los trastornos del estado de ánimo, particularmente la depresión, son los responsables de la mayor parte de los suicidios consumados. Este mayor riesgo de suicidio se ha encontrado en adultos y adolescentes. Existe cada vez mayor evidencia respecto de la hipótesis de que la conducta suicida tiene una fuerte contribución genética. Varios estudios han reportado una asociación positiva entre el genotipo "SS" y el alelo "S" del polimorfismo 5-HTTLPR del gen del transportador de serotonina y la conducta suicida.

• English

  Suicide is a common cause of death in adolescents, being mainly associated with depression. In addition, the "SS" genotype and the "S" allele of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of SLC6A4 gene of serotonin transporter have been associated with suicidal behavior. The aims of the present study were to compare the frequency of the polymorphism of SLC6A4 gene in depressed adolescents with and without history of suicidal attempt and to determine if the "SS" genotype was associated with specific clinical features.

  Method The study examined 53 adolescents who were evaluated with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for school-aged children-present and lifetime version (K-SADS-PL). A DNA sample was obtained and 5HTTLPR polymorphisms of SLC6A4 gene were analyzed.

  Results There were no differences in the frequency of genotype and allele frequencies between groups. However, patients with the "SS" genotype reported a higher frequency of hopelessness and a greater number of suicide attempts.

  Conclusions The frequency of "SS" genotype did not differ between patients with and without suicidal behavior, but patients with this genotype exhibited differences in clinical features of depression which need further study.