Analysis of the −1438 GA polymorphism of the 5-HT2Aserotonin receptor gene in bulimia nervosa patients with or without a history of anorexia nervosa

A single nucleotide polymorphism (−1438 GA) located 1438 base pairs upstream of the consensus start site of the 5-HT2Areceptor gene has been reported. The hypothesis that this gene polymorphism may be a susceptibility factor in bulimia nervosa was explored in a female population of purgative bulimics. Bulimia nervosa patients who have suffered preceding anorexia nervosa episodes formed the so-called previous anorexia nervosa bulimic patient group. At variance with some previous reports, when the frequency distribution of genotypes and alleles was compared in patients and controls, no differences were detected regardless of whether the bulimia nervosa patients had suffered prior anorexia nervosa episodes.