Genetic Frequencies of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 in Korean patients with Alcohol Dependence / 신경정신의학

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the association of ALDH2 genetic types with the risk and clinical variables of alcohol dependence in Korean patients. METHODS: ALDH2 genotypes were typed with restriction fragment length polymorphism method in 141 patients with alcohol dependence and 144 normal controls. The frequencies of ALDH2 genetic types were compared between patients and controls. Among the patients, the frequencies of ALDH2 genotypes were compared in terms of clinical variables. RESULTS: 1) The genotypic frequencies of the subjects with ALDH2*1/1 were higher and those with variant ALDH2, that is, ALDH2*1/2 and ALDH2*2/2 were lower in patients than in normal controls. 2) The genetic frequencies of the patients with ALDH2 were not related to family history of alcohol dependence. 3) There were no differences for the age of first drink and onset age of alcohol dependence between the patients with ALDH2*1/1 and those with ALDH2*1/2 or ALDH2*2/2. CONCLUSION: These results suggest ALDH2 genotypes might be associated with the risk of alcohol dependence.