Pharmacogenetics ethnic variations

Essential to the definition of Pharmacogenetics is the term genetic polymorphism. It is extrapolated that there are at least three million genetic polymorphisms in the human genome. Historically, a genetic polymorphism was defined as a genetic variation with a population frequency of 1% and above, but the larger inter-ethnic variation of population frequencies makes a strict definition based on such frequencies impractical. The most common molecular type of polymorphism is the... 

This volume covers topics including cultural perspectives in psychiatric diagnosis and psychopharmacotherapy, differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychotropics, pharmacogenetics of ethnic populations, ethnic variations in psychotropic responses, complementary medicines in mental disorders, attitudes towards psychotropic medications, prescribing practices in Asia-Pacific countries, pharmaco-economic implications, integrating theory and practice, and... 

Schoedel KA, Hoffmann EB, Rao Y, Sellers EM, Tyndale RE (2004) Ethnic variation in CYP2A6 and association of genetically slow nicotine metabolism and smoking in adult Caucasians, Pharmacogenetics 14 615-626... 

Abstract Pharmacogenetics as a field of research is increasing the basis of knowledge on the use of psychotropics in different ethnic patient populations. This chapter summarizes cur-rentknowledge on the metabolism of anxiolytic agents with emphasis on pharmacogenetics and ethnic variations in drug responses. 

To enhance therapeutic safety, clinical pharmacology has led efforts to discover the causes responsible for interindividual drug responsiveness in patients. This field of research is called pharmacogenetics. Often the underlying reason is a difference in enzyme property or activity. Ethnic variations are additionally observed. Prudent physicians will attempt to determine the metabolic status of a patient before prescribing a particular drug. 

Another important aspect of pharmacogenetics is the realization that all phar-macogenetic variations studied to date occur at different frequencies among subpopulations of different ethnic or racial origin. For instance, striking cross-ethnic... 

Nevertheless, the debate on the biological basis of race and ethnicity and pharmacogenetics may provide a useful understanding of ethnic and racial differences. Even in this case, however, we should not ignore several important parameters such as diet, economic, environmental, and psychosocial factors. However, pharmaco-genetic studies on race and ethnicity are worthwhile because they are useful indicators of genetic variation. However, this kind of race and ethnicity classification for medical treatment could lead to discrimination [122]. 

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