Pharmacogenomics testing for type B adverse drug reactions to anti-infective drugs: The example of hypersensitivity to abacavir

摘要

The role of pharmacogenomics testing in the prediction of adverse reactions to drugs is nowadays well-established for type A reactions, which are predictable adverse reactions related to pharmacokinetic variability [1]. Several clinical practice guidelines, including a number of guidelines for anti-Infective drugs, are presently being developed for these type A adverse reactions [2]. What makes the particular case of abacavir especially interesting is that pharmacogenomics testing permits to predict the risk of developing type B adverse reactions, that is, unpredictable reactions which are not directly related to the pharmacological properties of the drug.