We have had a lot of discussion of the practical uses of pharmacogenomics. I think it is reasonable to say that the practical applications of this field of study are still emerging. The Associated Press reports that there is now a new way to determne patients' responses to Plavix.
Here's their report:
WASHINGTON -- "Just spit." With those simple instructions, health care providers in California are hoping to expand the use of genetic testing to make sure patients get the right medication.
Scripps Health hospital system has begun using a saliva-based genetic test to detect whether patients will respond to Plavix, a widely used blood thinner that usually prevents clots.
But recent studies show about one-third of people of European descent, and more than 40 percent of people of African and Asian descent don't properly respond to Plavix, putting them at increased risk of fatalblood clots. The new laboratory test from Quest Diagnostics detects four genetic mutations found in more than 90 percent of patients who won't benefit from the drug, which is marketed byBristol-Myers-Squibb andSanofi-Aventis. While older tests were capable of picking up the mutations, Quest says its test is the first designed for routine use and quick processing.
"It's so much simpler for patients because they don't have to undergo a blood draw, and that makes the process much more convenient for everyone involved," said Dr. Eric Topol, chief academic officer of Scripps Health.
Scripps Health hospital system has begun using a saliva-based genetic test to detect whether patients will respond to Plavix, a widely used blood thinner that usually prevents clots.
But recent studies show about one-third of people of European descent, and more than 40 percent of people of African and Asian descent don't properly respond to Plavix, putting them at increased risk of fatalblood clots. The new laboratory test from Quest Diagnostics detects four genetic mutations found in more than 90 percent of patients who won't benefit from the drug, which is marketed byBristol-Myers-Squibb andSanofi-Aventis. While older tests were capable of picking up the mutations, Quest says its test is the first designed for routine use and quick processing.
"It's so much simpler for patients because they don't have to undergo a blood draw, and that makes the process much more convenient for everyone involved," said Dr. Eric Topol, chief academic officer of Scripps Health.
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