[The polymorphism of cytochrome P(450) 2C19 gene in patients with invasive fungal infections.].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the polymorphism profile of cytochrome P(450) 2C19 (CYP2C19) in Chinese patients with invasive fungal infections.

METHODS

Two major single nucleotide polymorphism loci of the CYP2C19 gene (CYP2C192 and CYP2C193) were genotyped with PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 134 patients with invasive fungal infections and 134 healthy volunteers. Allele frequencies and the proportions of metabolizer phenotypes were compared.

RESULTS

In patients with invasive fungal infections, CYP2C191, CYP2C192 and CYP2C193 alleles showed frequencies of 58.2%, 36.6% and 5.2%. In healthy volunteers, the frequencies of CYP2C191, CYP2C192 and CYP2C193 were 63.4%, 34.3% and 2.2%. There was no significant difference in allele frequencies between the two groups. Of the patients with invasive fungal infections, 33.6% were homozygous extensive metabolizers, 50.0% heterozygous extensive metabolizers and 16.4% poor metabolizers. Of the healthy volunteers, 40.3% were homozygous extensive metabolizers, 48.5% heterozygous extensive metabolizers and 11.2% poor metabolizers. The proportions of metabolizer phenotypes were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant CYP2C19 polymorphism was detected in both groups. Approximately two thirds of the Chinese patients were either heterozygous extensive metabolizers or poor metabolizers. The genetic polymorphism may have important effect on drug metabolism in these patients.