title: Pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine: the future for drug prescribing.
abstract: Pharmacogenetics, the study of interindividual variations in DNA sequence related to drug response, aims at the optimization of treatment regimens based on each patient's unique genetic makeup. Currently, there is a trend towards moving away from the concept of "one drug fits all" to a rather more individualized and personalized medicine. The goal is to define the appropriate drug dose that maximizes efficacy and minimizes toxicity in each individual patient. An example of genotyping for CYP2C9 genetic polymorphisms in patients receiving oral anticoagulants is provided. In spite of its inherent challenges, we hope that pharmacogenetic research and clinical applications expand to improve healthcare outcomes in Lebanon and worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Zahi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mitri
authors.forename: Maria O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Esmerian
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Simaan
authors.forename: Ramzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sabra
authors.forename: Nathalie K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Zgheib
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D010597:Pharmacogenetics; D057285:Precision Medicine; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014812:Vitamin K; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System