When Kevin M.D. reviewed the Forbes article on the "top ten medical tests you need," our reaction to the inclusion of the AmpliChip CYP450 (cytochrome P450) test was the same: Wha? From the article:
Enzymes that encode CYP450 genes--or genes found primarily in the liver, where we metabolize drugs and other foreign substances that enter the body--impact the ability of prescription drugs to penetrate the bloodstream properly. That means that the efficacy of a drug depends upon the availability of these enzymes. The CYP450 test, developed by Indianapolis, Ind.-based Roche Diagnostics, measures the enzyme levels so that doctors can find the right dosage for your body and see if you have immunity to a particular drug. Recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, this test is somewhat pricey, ringing in at about $500.I was curious about this cutting edge test that the author classified in the same category as, say, cholesterol profiling. When will patients begin asking for this test on their own? When will lawsuits be filed for adverse drug reactions that could have been potentially prevented by CYP450 testing? The following is a preliminary collection of information on the AmpliChip CYP450 test:
- Google Scholar search.
- Background information on the CYP450 gene family & drug metabolism.
- The AmpliChip P450 product page.
- Background information on the technology behind AmpliChip microarrays.
Other sites that have discussed AmpliChip CYP450 testing include FuturePundit and MedGadget.
Technorati Tags: CYP450 Test, Cytochrome P450, AmpliChip, Roche, Medicine
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