title: The distribution of allelic and genotypic frequencies of  N-Acetyltransferase-2 variants in an Argentine population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arylamine N-acetyltransferase-2 (NAT-2) is a key human enzyme in drug detoxification and elimination. Mutations in NAT-2 affect the activity of anti-tuberculosis drugs and result in three different phenotypes: rapid (RA), intermediate (IA) and slow acetylators (SA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The allelic, genotypic and phenotypic frequencies of NAT-2 were studied in 185 patients from Buenos Aires by restriction fragment length polymorphism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following allele frequencies were obtained: *4 = 29.9%, *5 = 37.0, *6 = 25.6%, *7 = 8% and *14 = 1.3%. With regard to the phenotype, we observed that 53.6% of the population was SA, 35.7% was IA and 10.7% was RA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high prevalence of SA might have an impact on anti-TB drug-induced hepatotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Hemostasis and Thrombosis Laboratory, Hospital of Infectious Diseases "F. J. Muñiz", Buenos Aires, Argentina. juliangch@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Julián Gabriel
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chamorro
authors.forename: Jorge P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Castagnino
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Musella
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frias
authors.forename: Federico Manuel
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Aranda
authors.forename: Gabriela Fernanda
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: De Larrañaga
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001118:Argentina; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase; C478900:NAT2 protein, human