Pharmacogenetics in Cardiovascular Disease is there clinical relevance?

Abstract

• Objectives: To give an up-to-date overview of the research in pharmacogenetics of cardiovascular disease, and the clinical implications of this research. • Methods: In this lecture I will focus on these groups cardiovascular drugs where many pharmacogenetics studies have been performed (including statins, coumarins, clopidogrel). • Results: Many studies have been performed in this area of research. These pharmacogenetic studies have been dealing with many methodological issues, such as power issues, issues with exposure and outcome definition etcetera. This is also at least part of the reason that many gene-drug associations that were initially reported were not replicated. For some gene-drug interactions trials have been performed to study the clinical utility of implementing genetic testing. • Conclusion: Even though many studies have been performed for many different drugs currently there are hardly any clinical implications in cardiovascular pharmacogenetics.