Abacavir Genetic Test: Don’t Give HIV A Chance
HIV is one word that comes with a death sentence. Thirty years since the first known outbreak of AIDS and there is only talk of a possible cure. A ray of hope comes from antiretroviral therapy drugs that attempt to control the growth of the virus. One such drug prescribed in combination with others is Abacavir. However, some people have adverse side effects that can cause more harm than good. A simple genetic test can help physicians identify patients who are sensitive to this drug, allowing them to choose other options.
Abacavir & HIV
The HIV virus infects each cell by altering the structure of DNA through an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. This enzyme binds with guanosine, which has a key role in the generation of new DNA.
Abacavir belongs to a class of drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. These drugs block the viral load in the body. The completely phosphorylated drug molecule competes with guanosine and binds preferentially with reverse transcriptase, halting further building of the DNA chain. While these treatments do not offer a complete cure for HIV, they control the number of infected cells, reduce chances of related complications, and improve quality of life.
Sensitivity to Abacavir
A significant percentage of abacavir users are sensitive and have adverse reactions, known as hypersensitive reaction (HSR). The US FDA has issued a safety announcement regarding possible risk of heart attack among some users. Genetic research has revealed that variation in the gene sequence of HLA-B triggers severe HSR in the mutants (HLA-B*5701) of the gene. Southwest Asians, particularly Indians, have the highest prevalence rate of HLA-B*5701 — up to 20% of the population. Many physicians pre-screen for the HLA-B*5701 variant before prescribing a combination therapy with abacavir.
Genomepatri and Abacavir
Genomepatri, MapmyGenome’s prevention-focused personal genomics test, reports the efficacy of and sensitivity to many drugs, including abacavir.
Resources
FDA Drug Safety Communication: Safety Review Update of Abacavir and Possible Increased Risk of Heart Attack. FDA.gov, 2015.
AIDS and HIV Drugs. WebMD, 2015.
ABACAVIR – ORAL (Ziagen) Side Effects, Medical Uses, and Drug Interactions. MedicineNet, 2015.
Know Your Drug Response Profile Genetically
Genomepatri by MapmyGenome includes pharmacogenomic insights — covering how your body responds to antiretroviral drugs, cardiovascular medications, and many others — so your doctor can prescribe the right drug at the right dose for your unique genetic profile.
