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Pharmacogenomics: New Challenges For Thai Anesthesiologists: J Med Assoc Thai 2017 100 (Suppl. 7) : S250-S258
Pharmacogenomics: New Challenges For Thai Anesthesiologists: J Med Assoc Thai 2017 100 (Suppl. 7) : S250-S258
Pharmacogenomics: New Challenges For Thai Anesthesiologists: J Med Assoc Thai 2017 100 (Suppl. 7) : S250-S258
Anesthesiologists
Sirirat Rattana-arpa MD*,
Patcharee Sriswasdi MD*,**
* Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
** Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston,
Massachusetts, USA
Implementing genomic medicine represents a key method for reducing cost and increasing effectiveness over the
traditional trial-and-error treatment through the application of individual genetic analysis to customize health care for each
patient. This personalized medicine concept, considering variations of human genome sequence during therapeutic decision
making, embodies the essential “P” of the “5Ps” of perioperative medicine and pain management including: 1) personalized,
2) preventive, 3) predictive, 4) participatory and 5) prospective. In the practice of anesthesia, knowing a patient’s individual
genetic information can help anesthesia providers choose the right medication at the right dose. This individualized prescription
practice reduces unnecessary expenses from trial-and-error. However, pharmacogenomic-based medication selection should
be considered in only be applied where the evidence and published guidelines support current knowledge.
The explosion of genetic discoveries since result, most of the recommended dose ranges for each
2003 have introduced all mankind to a new era of medication are usually based on both pharmacokinetic
personalized genomic medicine. The Human Genome and pharmacodynamics studies. This strategy
Project has provided an advanced capability for the incorporates most common phenotypes resulting from
prediction of both Mendelian and chronic disease population studies but overlooks the less common or
susceptibilities, as well as data useful for early individual rare unique variations of human genome. Although most
disease prevention and specific drug treatment. Access of the variation between individual patients does not
to personalized genetic information will enable medical have an extensive effect on the majority of medications,
personnel to be aware of a patient’s disease- some of these genetic differences significantly influence
susceptibilities and help them to provide individualized how the patient metabolizes particular drugs.
treatments(1). The international medical community has Pharmacogenomics is the study of the role of the
known that the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is no longer genetic influence on drug response. “Pharmaco-
suitable(2). genomics or personalized medicine” integrates the use
Medication orders are currently based on of personal genetic information to select appropriate
patient’s demographics information such as weight and and optimal therapies based on the context of a patient’s
age and predicted hepatic and renal clearance. However genetic analysis. In the future, genomic medicine will
those factors primarily influence the pharmacokinetics play a big role by providing information for doctors to
aspect of medication. Two main fields of pharmacology prescribe the right drug, the right dose the first time(2).
are pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The
former studies what the body does to the drug, and the Pharmacogenomics basics
latter focus on what the drug does to the body. As a The human genome sequence varies among
individuals. Common variations can be separated into
Correspondence to: five categories as shown in Fig. 1(1).
Sriswasdi P, Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medi- 1) Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
cine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 2 Wanglang Road,
Bangkoknoi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
2) Microsatellites with varying of dinucleotide
Phone: +66-2-4197978, Fax: +66- 2-4113256 repeats.
E-mail: pat.si.research@gmail.com 3) Base insertions.
↑ risk of toxicity
metabolism. In patients receiving codeine, while administration, ranged from 5 minutes to 1 hour(10).
conventional doses of an active drug cannot treat pain However, pharmacogenomic testing of pseudocho-
in most polymorphically expressed enzyme poor lineesterase deficiency is not recommended as routine
metabolizers group, the ultra-rapid metabolizers are at preoperative testing, rather it is currently used to explain
risk for severe or fatal adverse drug events(15). causes of prolonged relaxation(1). In Siriraj Hospital,
the BCHE gene is still cannot be tested.
Pseudocholinesterase deficiency
Pseudocholinesterase deficiency is defined Malignant hyperthermia
as an uncommon disorder of plasma cholinesterase, Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a rare life-
atypical pseudocholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase threatening hypermetabolic syndrome triggered by
(BCHE), acylcholine acylhydrolase and cholinesterase halogenated inhalation agents and/or succinyl-
II deficiency. This condition can be inherited, acquired, choline(6). When MH susceptible patients expose to
or iatrogenic(9). In 1956, the prolonged duration of action MH triggering agents, halogenated inhalation agents
following a dose of intravenous succinylcholine was and/or succinylcholine, uncontrolled calcium releases
noted in patients with an inherited deficiency may lead to hypermetabolic states. The earliest signs
cholinesterase enzyme(21). Incidence of pseudocho- that can be detected are tachycardia, increased end-
linesterase deficiency ranges from 1: 3,200 to 1: 5,000 expired carbon dioxide concentration despite increased
individuals. It is more common in the Alaska Natives minute ventilation, followed by muscle rigidity. If
and Persian Jewish community. untreated, MH can result in death or multi-organ failure
To date, there are more than 20 different such as compartment syndrome of limbs, acute renal
mutations in the BCHE gene that have been identified. failure, congestive heart failure, bowel ischemia(6).
The A (209A >G) variant or dibucaine resistant and the Even though more than 23 mutations that have
K variant (1615G >A) are the two most common types(1). been found to be associated with MH, the mutation of
The homozygous A variant are at risk of prolonged the RYR1 gene, on chromosome 19, is the most
apnea following succinylcholine administration. The predominant susceptibility(13). In spite of the knowledge
heterozygous variant for the K and A may experience of these genetic links to MH, anesthesiologists
prolonged muscle relaxation following succinylcholine currently identify MH susceptible patients by obtaining