Gene Testing Prior to Abacavir Therapy

The News:

The FDA alerted healthcare professionals yesterday that all patients starting or restarting treatment with abacavir or abacavir-containing drugs should be screened for the HLA-B*5701 allele. Patients with this allele are more likely to have serious and sometimes fatal hypersensitivity reactions. If a patient tests positive for this allele, abacavir should not be used. (Source - FDA Safety Alert)

IDIS Related Question:

Locate randomized studies (in adults) about hypersensitivy reactions with abacavir and the use of genetic screening prior to its use.

IDIS Search:

Drug(s): "ABACAVIR 8180817"

Descriptor(s): "SIDE EF IMMUNOLOGIC 90" and "STUDY RANDOMIZE ADULT 135" and "PHARMACOGENETICS 150"

IDIS Results:

IDIS article 590386