Association study of adrenergic beta3 receptor (Trp64Arg) and G-protein beta3 subunit gene (C825T) polymorphisms and weight change during clozapine treatment.

Weight gain, a common adverse effect of clozapine, may impair health and affect patient compliance during treatment with this agent. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between genetic variants of the adrenergic beta3 receptor (ADRB3) and the G-protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) and clozapine-induced body weight change (BWC). Eighty-seven treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients were weighed before and after 4 months of clozapine treatment, with the subjects gaining an average of 2.6 kg in body weight. No statistically significant relationship was demonstrated for the investigated ADRB3 Trp64Arg and the GNB3 C825T polymorphisms in terms of BWC post-treatment, suggesting these two polymorphisms do not play a significant role in clozapine-induced BWC. Further exploration of other genetic variants implicated in clozapine-induced BWC is important, however, in order to predict and reduce clozapine-associated weight gain. Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel