Pharmacogenomics: application to the management of cardiovascular disease

Abstract

There have been substantial advances in cardiovascular pharmacogenomics in the past decade. Genetic determinants of response to clopidogrel and warfarin have been defined, resulting in changes to the product label for each drug that suggests use of genetic information to guide therapy. Genetic tests are available, as are guidelines for incorporation of genetic information into patient care decisions. These guidelines and literature supporting them are reviewed. Significant advances have also been made in the pharmacogenomics of statininduced myopathy, and response to beta-blockers in heart failure, although the clinical applications of these findings are less clear. Other areas hold promise, including pharmacogenomics of antihypertensive drugs, aspirin, and drug-induced long QT syndrome. The potential value of pharmacogenomics in new drug discovery and drug development is also described. In summary, pharmacogenomics has current applications in management of cardiovascular disease, with clinically-relevant data continuing to mount.