[Role of genetics in anaesthesia-related variability].
OBJECTIVE
This review discusses variability among patients in anesthesia, due to genetic polymorphisms.


METHODS
Articles in French and English languages were retrieved from PubMed database. The initial request was "anesth* and (genotyp* or polymorphism* or genetic*)".


METHODS
Original articles, general reviews and one case report. Letters were excluded.


METHODS
Rare genetic diseases were excluded from the scope of this review. We stressed on frequent genetic polymorphisms that may have a daily impact in anesthesiology.


RESULTS
Most results were related to pain studies. We selected various examples to describe how genetic polymorphisms impacts the pharmacology of a given drug, and what are the clinical consequences.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a growing field of pharmacogenetic related evidences in anesthesiology. The results from various animal and human studies underline the genetic origin of variability among individuals. How anaesthesists have to integrate these parameters for their daily practice is still unclear, but pharmacogenetic will obviously be a leading field of anesthesia research in the future.
Textoris
J
J
Service d'anesthésie et de réanimation, hôpital Nord, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, chemin des Bourrely, 13915 Marseille, France. julien.textoris@gmail.com
Davidson
J
J
Martin
C
C
Leone
M
M
D000758:Anesthesia; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic