–But still unclear whether benefit justifies the cost. Because its effects can be highly variable, warfarin is a notoriously difficult drug to administer. In recent years warfarin has resulted in more medication-related visits to emergency departments among older patients than any other drug. Researchers have long hoped that genotype-guided dosing of warfarin might reduce the…
Precision Medicine, Stuck In Second Grade, Flunks Test Of Clinical Utility
One of the great scientific achievements of the past generation has been the identification and characterization of the genetic underpinnings for many diseases. By combining genetic information with other forms of research doctors have been able to reach a much deeper understanding of many diseases. In a few cases genetic information has proved useful in screening…
Study Casts Doubt On Value Of Genetic Testing For Familial Hypercholesterolemia
A new study published online in the Lancet suggests that one of the main screening plans that relies on genetic tests will fail to identify a substantial portion of people with familial hypercholesterolemia. Investigators from the UK and Belgium analyzed DNA from several cohorts of FH and non-FH patients. Their chief finding was that a large percentage…
Proof-of-Concept for Bedside Rapid Genotyping Test of CYP2C19
A new point-of-care test can rapidly identify people with a common genetic variant associated with impaired clopidogrel function. The authors claim that this is the first study to demonstrate the feasibility of delivering a genetic test at bedside. In an article published online in the Lancet, Jason Roberts and colleagues report on a new point-of-care test that can…
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