Association Study of Serotonin Transporter Gene Polymorphisms and Ventricular Septal Defects Related Possible Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Chinese Population

Polymorphisms of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene were hypothesized to be associated with ventricular septal defects (VSD) related ultrasonographic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) susceptibility. To test this hypothesis, we performed a case-case study in Chinese population and genotyped two polymorphisms (5-HTTLPR and 5-HTTVNTR). The LL homozygote of 5-HTTLPR and 10/10 homozygote of 5-HTTVNTR were both associated with a significantly increased risk of VSD-related ultrasonographic PAH. Haplotype analysis showed haplotype L-10 were also associated with a significant increased risk of ultrasonic PAH. These findings suggest that 5-HTT polymorphisms may play a role in the etiology of VSD-related possible PAH.