DNA Test for Clozapine Response in Patients with Schizophrenia
People affected with schizophrenia typically go through at least four different antipsychotic medications before being treated with clozapine. Clozapine was first introduced in the United States in 1990. More effective than conventional antipsychotic medications in people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, it is not without side effects, e.g., agranulocytosis (loss of white blood cells).
In early January 2006, a DNA test using SNP technology will be available in the UK that can be used to determine whether patients with schizophrenia will respond to clozapine.
Dr Paul Debenham, Director of Life Sciences at LGC, the analytical laboratory producing the test, said:
This new prediction test of treatment response to clozapine should prove to be an extremely valuable tool for clinicians, aiding them in their prescribing choice of antipsychotic drug for their patients. It will mean that clozapine can be prescribed much earlier on in the treatment of patients who are predicted to be responsive to the drug, thus reducing the suffering time of the patient and the associated cost of care.
Targeted therapy, improved patient outcome, and cost reduction - key advancements in personalized medicine.
News-Medical.Net, November 8, 2005
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POSTED IN: Genetics of Disease
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2 opinions for DNA Test for Clozapine Response in Patients with Schizophrenia
» Schizophrenia and Blog of the Week: WagBLOG Genetics and Health
Dec 5, 2005 at 10:15 am
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Deb Pomeroy
Aug 7, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Clozapine has been a miracle drug for my 25 yr old daughter. I sure wish the DNA test was available when she became ill in late 1999. It sure would have prevented a lot of suffering for her.
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