J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2002 Jul;41(4):612-618.

Association between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Dopamine Transporter Gene(DAT1) Polymorphism in Korean

• Shin DW
• Noh KS
• Oh KS
• Lee MS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Study results of association between dopamine transporter gene(DAT1) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) were not conclusive. Distribution of DAT1 polymorphism is variable according to ethnicity. Ethnic differences in the distribution of DAT1 can be an impediment to apply previous findings to Korean ADHD. This study was to examine the association between DAT1 and ADHD, and the risk allele of ADHD among DAT1 polymorphism in Korean.
METHODS
DNA extracted from blood of 100 normal controls and 44 ADHD patients. DAT1 with variable number of tandem repeats(VNTR) were determined using polymerase chain reaction. The differences of allelic frequency distribution and genotype frequency distribution between patient group and control group were tested with Fisher's exact test. The pairs of allele and of genotype with difference between the two groups were selected by Fisher's excat test adjusting p-values with permutation method. Odds ratios of two alleles and of two genotypes between the two groups were computed.
RESULTS
There was association between DAT1 and ADHD(genotype: p<0.05, allele: p<0.05. Patients with ADHD were more likely to have 440 base pairs than 480 base pairs comparing to controls (OR=4.46, 95% CI: 1.44-13.75). Patients with ADHD were more likely to have 9/10 genotype than 10/10 genotype comparing to controls(Odd Ration=3.74, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.11-12.61).
CONCLUSIONS
We found the association between DAT1 and ADHD, and possible risk allele of Korean ADHD. Replication of the results in larger sample is needed.

Keyword

Association; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Dopamine transporter gene; Korean

MeSH Terms

Alleles
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity*
Base Pairing
DNA
Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins*
Dopamine*
Genotype
Humans
Odds Ratio
Polymerase Chain Reaction
DNA
Dopamine
Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins