Genetic variation affects response to heart drug

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A study shows that variants in the target for beta blockers affect a patient's response to this medication.
Beta-blockers can be an effective medication for heart failure, but patients' response to these drugs can be somewhat unpredictable. Now researchers at the University of Maryland and elsewhere reveal one of the reasons why.

They carried out a retrospective study of over 1,000 patients on beta-blockers or placebo, analyzing variants of the beta-1-adrenergic receptor, which is a target for the drug. Those with one specific variant had a 38 per cent reduction in death rate compared to placebo. But those with another variant had no benefit compared to placebo. The study suggests that genetic testing, focused upon the beta-1-adrenergic receptor might help pick out those patients who are set to benefit from beta-blockers. This is a clear example of personalized medicine, which many doctors believe may be the way prescriptions are made in the future.

Source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences online 10th July 2006