Autor: |
Muyambo S; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Bindura University of Science Education, Bindura, Zimbabwe., Ndadza A; Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism Research Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IIDMM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa., Soko ND; Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism Research Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IIDMM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa., Kruger B; Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism Research Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IIDMM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa., Kadzirange G; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe., Chimusa E; Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism Research Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IIDMM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa., Masimirembwa CM; Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), African Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Technology (AiBST), Harare, Zimbabwe., Ntsekhe M; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa., Nhachi CFB; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe., Dandara C; Pharmacogenomics and Drug Metabolism Research Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IIDMM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. |
Abstrakt: |
Pharmacogenomics is universally relevant for worldwide modern therapeutics and yet needs further development in resource-limited countries. While there is an abundance of genetic association studies in controlled medical settings, there is a paucity of studies with a naturalistic design in real-life clinical practice in patients with comorbidities and under multiple drug treatment regimens. African patients are often burdened with communicable and noncommunicable comorbidities, yet the application of pharmacogenomics in African clinical settings remains limited. Using warfarin as a model, this study aims at minimizing gaps in precision/personalized medicine research in African clinical practice. We present, therefore, pharmacogenomic profiles of a cohort of 503 black Africans ( n = 252) and Mixed Ancestry ( n = 251) patients from Southern Africa, on warfarin and co-prescribed drugs in a naturalized noncontrolled environment. Seventy-three ( n = 73) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 29 pharmacogenes were characterized using a combination of allelic discrimination, Sanger sequencing, restriction fragment length polymorphism, and Sequenom Mass Array. The common comorbidities were hypertension (43-46%), heart failure (39-45%), diabetes mellitus (18%), arrhythmia (25%), and HIV infection (15%). Accordingly, the most common co-prescribed drugs were antihypertensives, antiarrhythmic drugs, antidiabetics, and antiretroviral therapy. We observed marked variation in major pharmacogenes both at interethnic levels and within African subpopulations. The Mixed Ancestry group presented a profile of genetic variants reflecting their European, Asian, and African admixture. Precision medicine requires that African populations begin to capture their own pharmacogenetic SNPs as they cannot always infer with absolute certainty from Asian and European populations. In the current historical moment of the COVID-19 pandemic, we also underscore that the spectrum of drugs interacting with warfarin will likely increase, given the systemic and cardiovascular effects of COVID-19, and the anticipated influx of COVID-19 medicines in the near future. This observational clinical pharmacogenomics study of warfarin, together with past precision medicine research, collectively, lends strong support for incorporation of pharmacogenetic profiling in clinical settings in African patients for effective and safe administration of therapeutics. |