TABLE 5–1 Major alleles and frequencies in African, Asian, and European populations. (Continued) 1The Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Database (dbSNP) is an online public repository of genomic variation established by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/SNP/.
a frequency of approximately 20% in Europeans and is nearly absent (< 1%) in Asians (Table 5–1). Based on Hardy-Weinberg principles (see Glossary), the percentage of Europeans who are homozygous for the CYP2D6*4 allele, ie, who carry the *4 allele on both maternal and paternal chromosomes, would be 4%, whereas that of those who are heterozygotes would be 32%. This parallels the lower number of PMs (defined as having two nonfunctional alleles, eg, PMs are homozygous for *3, *4, *5, *6, or any combination of nonfunctional alleles such as *4/*5 ), observed in Asian populations (∼1%) compared with European populations (∼5–10%) (Table 5–1). In contrast, the *5 gene deletion is found at similar frequencies (∼3–5%) across European, African, and Asian populations, suggesting that this mutation likely took place prior to the separation of the three major races more than 100,000 years ago. Clinically, since some genotyping platforms are specific to a single ethnicity, it is important to ensure alleles applicable to the patient population being treated are tested. Of note, rare or previously undiscovered variants are typically not included in commercial tests, and thus novel or rare polymorphisms, which may exhibit altered function, will be missed.
Example: Codeine is a phenanthrene derivative prodrug opioid analgesic indicated for the management of mild to moderately severe pain (Chapter 31). Codeine, like its active metabolite morphine, binds to μ-opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS). Morphine is 200 times more potent as an agonist than codeine, and conversion of codeine into morphine is essential for codeine’s analgesic activity. The enzyme responsible for the O-demethylation conversion of codeine into morphine is CYP2D6. Patients with normal CYP2D6 activity (ie, EMs) convert sufficient codeine to morphine (∼5–10% of an administered dose) to produce the desired analgesic effect. PMs and IMs are more likely to experience insufficient pain relief, while UMs are at an increased risk for side effects, eg, drowsiness and respiratory depression, due to higher systemic concentrations of morphine. Interestingly, gastrointestinal adverse effects, eg, constipation, are decreased in PMs, whereas the central side effects, eg, sedation and dizziness, do not differ between PMs and EMs. The antitussive properties associated with codeine are not affected by CYP2D6 activity. According to CPIC guidelines, standard starting doses are recommended in EMs and IMs with close monitoring, especially in IMs; and CPIC recommends use of an alternative agent in PMs and UMs (see Table 5–2).