Gene Testing Cuts Side Effects
posted: 12/01/2011
Testing people before they start HIV treatment for specific genes could stop many people suffering treatment side effects and avoid the need to change HIV treatment, new research suggests.
Like any medicine, HIV treatment drugs can cause side-effects. There are 23 genetic variations HIV doctors can now use to predict bad reactions, before patient and doctor decide what treatment drugs would be best.
Gene variation says no to Abacavir
We know well that people who have an allergic reaction to the drug abacavir (Ziagen, also in the combination pills Kivexa and Trizivir) have a gene variation that can be easily found.
People should always be tested for this gene before they start treatment with this drug. If you are tested and your result is positive, you shouldn’t take abacavir.
Other genes for other drugs
Now researchers have found that some genes increase the risk of side-effects caused by several other anti-HIV drugs.
They tested 577 patients starting HIV treatment for the first time to see if they had variations in genes associated with certain side-effects.
These were mood and sleep problems caused by efavirenz (Sustiva, also in the combination pill Atripla), and a non-dangerous yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by atazanavir (Reyataz).
Genes – side effects up to 9 times worse
People taking efavirenz who have the warning gene have much higher rates of mood and sleep problems – these are three times worse if you have this ‘warning’ gene.
The risk of atazanavir-related side-effects was increased nine-fold among people with the ‘warning’ gene for that.
We need more research into drug side effects linked to genes, the researchers say.
More side effects information
For more information on the side-effects of HIV treatment, NAM and i-Base both produce good side-effects booklets
Nam booklet – Side Effects
i-Base booklet - HIV and your quality of life: a guide to side effects and other complications
HIV, treatments and genes website
There is a useful new website on HIV, drug treatments and genes – HIV pharmacogenomics
More information on genetics and HIV treatment
Source, with reference
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