Perception of the usefulness of drug/gene pairs and barriers for pharmacogenomics in Latin America.

Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics areas are currently emerging fields focused to manage pharmacotherapy that may prevent undertreatment while avoiding associated drug toxicity in patients. Large international differences in the awareness and in the use of pharmacogenomic testing are presumed, but not well assessed to date. In the present study we review the awareness of Latin American scientific community about pharmacogenomic testing and the perceived barriers for their clinical application.

Beta-2-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms and changes in lipids induced by metoprolol.

Polymorphisms Arg(16)Gly and Gln(27)Glu of the gene of adrenoreceptor beta(2)(ADRB2) are associated with altered sympathetic responses. This study evaluated the relationship between these polymorphisms and changes in lipids induced by metoprolol in hypertensive patients. 105 adults were enrolled.

[Effectiveness of treatments for hypertension in a sample of Colombian patients].

Hypertension represents a high health cost because of its prevalence, its low level of diagnosis and control, and its role as a primary risk factor for other cardiovascular diseases. According to the JNC 7 report, hypertensive individuals have blood pressures of 140/90 mm Hg or higher; recommended treatment reduces these values to below 120/80 mm Hg. Co-morbidity and the presence of other risk factors must also be considered.

[Patterns of antihypertensive agents use in 11,947 Colombian patients].

In Colombian populations older than 15 years, 12.6% suffer from hypertensive disease. Pharmacological therapies for hypertension and associated diseases were compared for 11,947 adult hypertensive patients of both sexes.