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A pharmacogenomic investigation of the cardiac safety profile of ondansetron in children and pregnant women

B. Drögemöller, Galen E. B. Wright, Jessica N. Trueman, K. Shaw, Michelle Staub, S. Chaudhry, Fudan Miao, Michelle Higginson et al.

Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie, 2022

101 participants · 8 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Ondansetron is a highly effective antiemetic for the treatment of nausea and vomiting. However, this medication has also been associated with QT prolongation. Pharmacogenomic information on therapeutic response to ondansetron exists, but no investigation has been performed on genetic factors that influence the cardiac safety of this medication.

METHODS

Three patient groups receiving ondansetron were recruited and followed prospectively (pediatric post-surgical patients n = 101; pediatric oncology patients n = 98; pregnant women n = 62). Electrocardiograms were conducted at baseline, and 5- and 30-min post-ondansetron administration, to determine the effect of ondansetron treatment on QT interval. Pharmacogenomic associations were assessed via analyses of comprehensive CYP2D6 genotyping and genome-wide association study data.

RESULTS

In the entire cohort, 62 patients (24.1%) met the criteria for prolonged QT, with 1.2% of the cohort exhibiting unsafe QT prolongation. The most significant shift from baseline occurred at five minutes post-ondansetron administration (P = 9.8 × 10-4). CYP2D6 activity score was not associated with prolonged QT. Genome-wide analyses identified novel associations with a missense variant in TLR3 (rs3775291; P = 2.00 × 10-7) and a variant linked to the expression of SLC36A1 (rs34124313; P = 1.97 × 10-7).

CONCLUSIONS

This study has provided insight into the genomic basis of ondansetron-induced cardiac changes and has emphasized the…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 101 participants or records.

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