Beta2 agonist response seen despite polymorphism

摘要

Asthma patients are responsive to long-acting beta2 agonist treatment even if they possess a common mutated version of the drug's target, according to trial results published last week (Lancet 2009;374:1754).Previous studies have suggested that a common polymorphism found in the gene for the beta2 adrenergic receptor - which changes the amino acid in position 16 (B16) from a glycine to an arginine - may render asthma patients less responsive to these drugs, explain the authors of the study.