Genetic Screening for Carbamazepine Reactions

Screening for the HLA-B*1502 and HLA-A*3101 alleles in patients of Chinese and European descent, respectively, may help prevent carbamazepine-induced toxicity.

Carbamazepine — an anticonvulsant, mood-stabilizing drug, and analgesic agent for trigeminal neuralgia — can cause various drug reactions, ranging from exanthema to severe blistering reactions. Two new studies address the value of genetic testing for predicting or avoiding such reactions.

In certain Asian populations, carbamazepine is the most common cause of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) — which are potentially life-threatening — and such reactions are strongly associated with the HLA-B*1502 allele (odds ratio, 1357, for carriers vs. noncarriers). Chen and colleagues tested for the HLA-B*1502 allele in 4855 Taiwanese patients with indications for carbamazepine use. They advised the 372 carriers against …

Reviewing Author

Jaime Toro, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsMultiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

Jaime Toro, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsMultiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders