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Pharmacogenetics of statins: achievements, whole-genome analyses and future perspectives

    Iris Postmus

    Department of Gerontology & Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Netherlands Consortium for Healthy Ageing, Leiden, The Netherlands

    ,
    Jeffrey JW Verschuren

    Department of Cardiology, C-2-R, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

    ,
    Anton JM de Craen

    Department of Gerontology & Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Netherlands Consortium for Healthy Ageing, Leiden, The Netherlands

    ,
    P Eline Slagboom

    Netherlands Consortium for Healthy Ageing, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    ,
    Rudi GJ Westendorp

    Department of Gerontology & Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Netherlands Consortium for Healthy Ageing, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Leyden Academy of Vitality & Ageing, Leiden, The Netherlands

    ,
    J Wouter Jukema

    Department of Cardiology, C-2-R, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

    Durrer Center for Cardiogenetic Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of The Netherlands, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    &
    Stella Trompet

    * Author for correspondence

    Department of Gerontology & Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/pgs.12.25

    Statins are the most commonly prescribed class of drug worldwide and therapy is highly effective in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and cardiovascular events. However, there is large variability in clinical response to statin treatment. Recent research provides evidence that genetic variation contributes to this variable response to statin treatment. Until recently, pharmacogenetic studies have used mainly candidate gene approaches to investigate these effects. Since candidate gene studies explain only a small part of the observed variation and results have often been inconsistent, genome-wide association (GWA) studies may be a better approach. In this paper the most important candidate gene studies and the first published GWA studies assessing statin response are discussed. Moreover, we describe the PHASE study, an EU-funded GWA study that will investigate the genetic variation responsible for the variation in response to pravastatin in a large randomized clinical trial.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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