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SCN1A and SCN2A polymorphisms are associated with response to valproic acid in Chinese epilepsy patients

  • Pharmacogenetics
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Abstract

Purpose

There is a large inter-individual variation in the efficacy of valproic acid (VPA) against epilepsy. The genetic polymorphism influence of sodium channels on VPA response remains a matter of debate. The aim of the study was to explore the effect of SCN1A and SCN2A gene polymorphisms on VPA response in the treatment of epilepsy among Chinese patients.

Methods

A total of 354 epileptic patients with VPA treatment were genotyped for five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), including SCN1A rs10188577 T>C, rs2298771 T>C, rs3812718 G>A, and SCN2A rs2304016 A>G, rs17183814 G>A. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association of genotype with VPA antiepileptic effects, adjusting the influence of confounding factors.

Results

Genotype distributions of all selected SNPs were consistent with the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in epilepsy patients. SCN1A rs3812718 and SCN2A rs2304016 were found to be significantly associated with VPA response, both in monotherapy and in VPA-based polytherapy. Patients with the rs3812718 A allele were more frequently seen in the VPA-responsive group (P < 0.05), and the rs2304016 G allele was related to an increased risk of resistance to VPA therapy (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study revealed that SCN1A rs3812718 and SCN2A rs2304016 polymorphisms might be markers of VPA response in Chinese epilepsy patients.

Trial registration

ChiCTR-1800016477

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Acknowledgments

We thank all patients and their family members who contributed to this work. We thank Professor Shusen Sun from College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Western New England University, USA, for his valuable advice.

Contributions of authors

Zanling Zhang designed the study. Lihong Shi performed the data analysis and wrote the manuscript. Miaomiao Zhu, Huilan Li, and Zhipeng Wen recruited patients and conducted patients’ follow-up. Jia Luo and Cong Lin extracted the DNA. Xiaoping Chen reviewed the manuscript and critically revised the intellectual content of the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (no. 2017JJ2398).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China

    Lihong Shi, Miaomiao Zhu, Huilan Li, Jia Luo, Cong Lin & Zanling Zhang

  2. Institute of Hospital Pharmacy, Central South University, No. 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China

    Lihong Shi, Miaomiao Zhu, Huilan Li, Jia Luo, Cong Lin & Zanling Zhang

  3. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, China

    Zhipeng Wen & Xiaoping Chen

  4. Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, No. 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, China

    Zhipeng Wen & Xiaoping Chen

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  1. Lihong Shi
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Correspondence to Zanling Zhang.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of Xiangya Hospital Central South University Medical Ethics Committee, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Shi, L., Zhu, M., Li, H. et al. SCN1A and SCN2A polymorphisms are associated with response to valproic acid in Chinese epilepsy patients. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 75, 655–663 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-019-02633-0

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