Objective: To evaluate the association between response to treatment of nicotine dependence with bupropion and the presence of the polymorphism SLC6A3 3’UTR VNTR, in the gene that codifies the dopaminergic transporter. Method: A hundred patients were treated in the Nicotine Dependence Outpatient Clinic of the Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School. All patients were male, diagnosed as nicotine dependents and had no other diseases. All received bupropion until 300 mg a day for 12 weeks, combined with cognitive-behavioral group therapy. The Fagerström Scale was applied at the beginning and at the end of treatment. Cigarette cessation was evaluated in the last week of treatment and one month later. Patients had 10 ml blood extracted and genotiped for SLC6A3 3’UTR VNTR polymorphism. Results: There was no association between cigarettes cessation and the presence of polymorphism. Conclusion: More studies are needed to assess whether the presence of polymorphism SLC6A3 3’UTR VNTR could be associated with a better response to treatment of nicotine dependence.
Dependence; nicotine; withdrawal; polymorphism
