Influence of polymorphisms on atorvastatin efficacy and safety in Macedonian subjects.

Atorvastatin, as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, is a widely prescribed medication for the treatment of dyslipidemia. However, despite its clinical efficacy in reducing major cardiovascular events, a wide inter-individual variability in its response exists. Several studies in this area point to the effect of polymorphisms in the solute carrier organic anion transporter 1B1 (SLCO1B1) gene encoding the multiple organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) involved in hepatic uptake of atorvastatin.

Frequencies of single-nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes of the SLCO1B1 gene in selected populations of the western balkans.

As a membrane influx transporter, organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) regulates the cellular uptake of a number of endogenous compounds and drugs. The aim of this study was to characterize the diversity of the solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1) gene encoding this transporter in two ethnic groups populating the Western Balkans. The distribution of SCLO1B1 alleles was determined at seven variant sites (c.

Review: Occult hepatitis C virus infection: still remains a controversy.

Occult hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by the presence of HCV RNA in the liver cells or peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients whose serum samples test negative for HCV RNA, with or without presence of HCV antibodies. The present study reviews the existing literature on the persistence of occult hepatitis C virus infection, with description of the clinical characteristics and methods for identification of occult hepatitis C. Occult hepatitis C virus infection was detected in patients with abnormal results of liver function tests of unknown origin, with HCV antibodies and HCV RNA negativity in serum, and also in patients with spontaneous or treatment-induced recovery from hepatitis C.