While clinical applicability remains a few years away, two newly identified variances in people’s genes illustrate the potential of applied pharmacogenetics. Nearly one-third of white patients taking warfarin may someday benefit when their polymorphic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 genes can be routinely identified. Women who require estrogen replacement therapy will be better managed if the variations in the estrogen-receptor gene can be detected in everyday clinical practice.
Higashi MK et al. Association between CYP2C9 genetic variants and anticoagulation-related outcomes during warfarin therapy. JAMA. 2002;287:1690–8.
Herrington DM et al. Estrogen-receptor polymorphisms and effects of estrogen replacement on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women with coronary disease. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:967–74.
Krauss RM. Individualized hormone-replacement therapy [editorial]? N Engl J Med. 2002;346:1017–8.