CYP51A1 polymorphism and voriconazole-associated hepatotoxicity in children undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant

Fungal CYP51A (14α-sterol demethylase) is the target of an azole antifungal, voriconazole (VCZ), which also partially inhibits human CYP51A1. Hepatotoxicity is a common adverse effect of azoles, which is reported to be caused by altered gene expressions secondary to cholesterol synthesis inhibition by azoles. This is a post-hoc analysis of a previously conducted phase 1 dose-finding study of prophylactic VCZ in 56 pediatric hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. We explored an association between variants in human CYP51A1 (rs2282976 and rs6465348) and VCZ-induced hepatotoxicity. Genotype A/G or G/G in rs6465348 showed lower odds of hepatotoxicity after adjusting for VCZ area-under-the-curve (OR: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.01 – 0.79, vs. A/A).