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Ancillary risk information and pharmacogenetic tests: social and policy implications.

Henrikson NB, Burke W, Veenstra DL

Institute for Public Health Genetics, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. nhenriks@u.washington.edu

Some pharmacogenetic tests may provide ancillary disease risk information. To evaluate evidence and assess the social and policy implications of ancillary disease risk information associated with candidate pharmacogenetic variants, We conducted a literature search and abstract review of disease susceptibility studies for each of 42 gene variants potentially associated with drug response. Twenty-two variants (53%) had suggested association with disease risk in at least two studies, and sixteen (38%) were for diseases other than the pharmacogenetic indication. Seven variants (16%) were associated with risk for at least two different diseases. Pharmacogenetic tests have the potential to provide ancillary disease risk information, and this potential should be considered as pharmacogenetic tests are brought into clinical use. Implications will vary with each test but tests should be evaluated individually within a framework that outlines the potential implications of ancillary information.

Published 19 March 2008 in Pharmacogenomics J, 8(2): 85-9.
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