The second well-studied genetic drug polymorphism involves the stereoselective aromatic (4)-hydroxylation of the anticonvulsant mephenytoin, catalyzed by CYP2C19. This polymorphism, which is also inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, occurs in 3–5% of Caucasians and 18–23% of Japanese populations. It is genetically independent of the debrisoquin-sparteine polymorphism. In normal “extensive metabolizers” (EMs) (S)-mephenytoin is extensively hydroxylated by CYP2C19 at the 4 position of the phenyl ring before its glucuronidation and rapid excretion in the urine, whereas (R)-mephenytoin is slowly N-demethylated to nirvanol, an active metabolite. PMs, however, appear to totally lack the stereospecific (S)-mephenytoin hydroxylase activity, so both (S)and (R)-mephenytoin enantiomers are N-demethylated to nirvanol, which accumulates in much higher concentrations. Thus, PMs of mephenytoin show signs of profound sedation and ataxia after doses of the drug that are well tolerated by normal metabolizers. Two defective CYP2C19 variant alleles (CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3), the latter predominant in Asians, are largely responsible for the PM genotype. The molecular bases include splicing defects resulting in a truncated, nonfunctional protein. CYP2C19 is responsible for the metabolism of various clinically relevant drugs (Table 4–4). Thus, it is clinically important to recognize that the safety of each of these drugs may be severely reduced in persons with the PM phenotype. On the other hand, the PM phenotype can notably increase the therapeutic efficacy of omeprazole, a proton-pump inhibitor, in gastric ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux diseases (see Chapter 5 for additional discussion of the CYP2C19 polymorphism).
Another CYP2C19 variant allele (CYP2C19*17) exists that is associated with increased transcription and thus higher CYP2C19 expression and even higher functional activity than that of the wild type CYP2C19-carrying EMs. Individuals carrying this CYP2C19*17 allele exhibit higher metabolic activation of pro-drugs such as the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, the antimalarial chlorproguanil, and the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel. The former event is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer relapse, and the latter event with an increased risk of bleeding. Carriers of the CYP2C19*17 allele are also known to enhance the metabolism and thus the elimination of drugs such as the antidepressants escitalopram and imipramine, as well as the antifungal voriconazole. This consequently impairs the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs, thus requiring clinical dosage adjustments.