Anaesthetic genetics and genomics

Abstract

Genetic variations have always been implicated in interindividual reactions to various pharmaceutical agents. Some common genetically determined anaesthetic conditions, such as malignant hyperthermia, “scoline apnoeaâ€, “halothane hepatitis†and porphyria, are fairly well described, and the genetic differences in enzyme, receptor and ion channel systems are slowly being elucidated. These genomic differences allow some explanation as to why drugs that work well in certain patients produce no or unwanted effects in others.