The UF Health Personalized Medicine Program has successfully implemented a process for routine genetic testing that helps cardiologists identify which patients may benefit from a switch to an alternate anticlotting medication, and the program is now turning its attention to other types of medications using the same process. The CTSI-led program published a review of its first year in the March issue of the American Journal of Medical Genetics.
Patients who undergo heart catheterizations are often prescribed clopidogrel, an anticlotting medication also known commercially as Plavix. During its first 12 months, the program screened more than 1,000 patients and identified that more than a quarter of those screened have genetic traits that prevent them from metabolizing clopidogrel successfully. The genetic test results were added to the patients’ electronic medical record. If the results showed a genotype that is associated with impaired metabolism of clopidogrel, cardiologists treating the patients are alerted with alternate treatment recommendations.
The program, developed within the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute, aims to show that genetic information can be used as a conventional part of patient care and is supported by a $3.7 million grant awarded by the National Human Genome Research Institute. The program is publishing its results and lessons learned to help others address the challenges of implementing genomic medicine.
Read the full news release:
https://ufhealth.org/news/2014/uf-health-successfully-implements-genomic-medicine-program