The A9 allele of the dopamine transporter gene is associated with delirium tremens and alcohol-withdrawal seizure

Background The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays a key role in homeostatic regulation of dopaminergic neurotransmission and could thus be involved in the variability of two severe alcohol-withdrawal symptoms, alcohol-withdrawal seizure (AWS) and delirium tremens (DT). Interestingly, an association was found between the DAT gene (9-copy repeat) and the risk for these symptoms in two previous case-control studies. Methods We reanalyzed the role of the DAT gene in the lifetime risk for AWS and DT in 120 alcohol-dependent patients, taking into account potentially confounding factors. Results Alcohol-dependent patients with the A9 allele had experienced AWS or DT at least once (odds ratio [OR] = 2.52, p = .03). This association persisted when excluding patients with antisocial personality comorbidity (OR = 3.48, p = .02) or limiting the analysis to older patients (OR = 8.3, p = .0008). Conclusions This study provides convergent data in favor of a significant role of the DAT gene in the risk for some severe withdrawal symptoms. If further replicated in larger samples, the DAT genetic polymorphism could be one of the factors to be analyzed to further assess the risk of some severe alcohol-withdrawal symptoms.