Roles of CYP2C19 Gene Polymorphisms in Susceptibility to POAG and Individual Differences in Drug Treatment Response

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) polymorphisms in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) susceptibility and individual responses to drug treatment. MATERIAL/METHODS: This case-control study consisted of 93 cases with POAG and 125 controls. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to analyze CYP2C19 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). After timolol treatment, patients were classified into side effect (SE) group and non-side effect (NSE) group. According to drug treatment responses, patients were divided into 3 groups: excellent group (Ex) (IOP ≥8 mm Hg); utility group (Ut) (5 <IOP ≤8 mm Hg), and ineffective group (In) (IOP ≤5 mm Hg). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. RESULTS: We found no statistical differences in the alleles and genotypes frequencies of CYP2C19 between the case group and the control group (both P>0.05). Frequencies of extensive metabolizer phenotype and poor metabolizer phenotype or poor metabolizer phenotype and intermediate metabolizer phenotype were significantly different between the SE group and NSE group (both P<0.05). The distribution of intermediate metabolizer phenotype and extensive metabolizer phenotype were significantly different among Ex group, Ut group, and In group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence that CYP2C19 polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to POAG. However, different CYP2C19 metabolizer phenotypes were identified and observed to have important effects on the individual differences in drug treatment response.