Is the prevalence of CYP2C19 genetic variants different in Pacific people than in New Zealand Europeans?
OBJECTIVE
To undertake a preliminary assessment of the prevalence of CYP2C19 ultra-rapid and poor metaboliser genetic variants in Pacific people compared with NZ Europeans.


METHODS
Individuals who self-identified as either Pacific people (n=14) or NZ European (n=12) were genotyped for the *2, *3 or *17 functional variants of CYP2C19.


RESULTS
There was a significantly lower frequency (P<0.01) of the CYP2C19*17 allele in Pacific people compared with NZ Europeans. No CYP2C19*17 variant alleles were detected in Pacific people in this preliminary study.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of CYP2C19*17 may be low in Pacific people and may lead to altered efficiency at metabolising some common drugs such as omeprazole. Further studies to confirm this preliminary finding are warranted.
Helsby
Nuala
N
Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand. n.helsby@auckland.ac.nz
Goldthorpe
Michael
M
Gow
Peter
P
de Zoysa
Janak
J
D000483:Alleles; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics*; D065731:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015995:Prevalence
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D004247:DNA; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C045793:CYP2C19 protein, human; D065731:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19; D009853:Omeprazole