Genetic testing may help reduce PPI-linked infections in children
Dose could be adjusted according to liver enzyme activity, expert suggests
Children with a poor or normal functioning liver enzyme are at increased risk of infection when on proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, compared with those with more rapid enzyme metabolism, a study shows.
US researchers carried out a retrospective analysis of 670 children aged up to three years (median age seven months, 44% girls) who were prescribed PPIs.
Children were genotyped and classified according to the rate of metabolism by their cytochrome P450 2C19 enzyme (known as CYP2C19).
“Because CYP2C19 inactivates PPIs, genetic variants that increase [the enzyme’s] function may decrease PPI exposure and infections,” the authors said.
