CYP2C19 gene variants and major depressive disorder: integrative review

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifactorial condition common in the general population, treated with different antidepressants. Several genes are involved in the metabolism of these antidepressants, including CYP2C19. Consequently, functional polymorphisms in these genes affect these drugs' metabolism. Through an integrative review, this research aimed to verify the CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms' influence on antidepressant metabolism, evaluate their frequency in patients affected by MDD, verify clinical and demographic characteristics of studied populations, and identify possible associations of this gene with MDD. The database used to search for articles was Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde - BVS, and four articles were selected. Polymorphisms in the CYP2C19 gene may contribute to the metabolism of some antidepressants, such as citalopram, but not others, such as venlafaxine and sertraline. Interestingly, the drug sertraline can influence the levels of lipid profile parameters. In addition, some polymorphisms may be relatively frequent depending on the populations, such as Asians. No CYP2C19 polymorphisms associated with MDD development were observed.