Genetic variation affects statin efficacy
Genetic variation may affect a patient's response to statins, new research suggests.
The study, which examined the effects of treatment with pravastatin,
showed that people with a variant in a gene for HMG-Co A reductase experienced
smaller reductions in cholesterol.
Scientists took blood samples from over 1,500 patients over a 24-week
period of pravastatin therapy. Two common and closely linked variants
were found in the gene coding for HMG-CoA reductase — the target
enzyme inhibited by statins. The variants were associated with a 22 per
cent smaller reduction in total cholesterol and a 19 per cent smaller
reduction in low density lipoprotein — both significant findings.
Reporting their findings in JAMA (2004;291:2821), the US authors say
that their data provide strong clinical evidence for “personalised
medicine” and the use of genetic
screening to target certain therapies.
They add that future studies must find out whether differences in cholesterol
reduction can be overcome by adjusting the dose of the statin or whether
use of alternative, non-statin lipid-lowering therapies are needed in
certain patients. |
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