Effects of UGT1A, CYP2C9/19 and ABAT polymorphisms on plasma concentration of valproic acid in Chinese epilepsy patients.

Aim: To evaluate the association between genetic polymorphisms and plasma concentration-to-dose ratio of valproic acid (CDRV) in Chinese epileptic patients.

Methods

A total of 46 epileptic patients treated with valproic acid therapy were enrolled. 18 SNPs in nine genes related to valproic acid were directly sequenced with Sanger methods.

Results

Patients carrying UGT1A6 heterozygous genotypes had significantly lower CDRV than those carrying the wild-type genotypes. In contrast, patients with the homozygote genotypes of CYP2C9 and ABAT had higher CDRV than those with the wild-type genotypes and patients with the heterozygous genotypes of CYP2C19 had higher CDRV.

Conclusion

Detection of genetic polymorphism in these genes might facilitate an appropriate dose of valproic acid for epileptic patients. Further studies with larger cohorts are necessary to underpin these observations.