Incidental Pharmacogenetics Findings in an HLA-related Research: Considerations for Primary Prevention.

Hypersensitivity drug reactions (HDRs) are an immense public health problem where significant proportions may lead to mortality. HDRs can manifest in various phenotypes, mainly cutaneous reactions that range from the mild; i.e. exanthem, urticaria, and angioedema to the critical; i.e. severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs). SCARs are life-threatening reactions that include Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) or drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) and less commonly, acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP). Previously, these reactions were unavoidable as they are linked to the intrinsic properties of drugs and an individual's genetic predisposition. Nevertheless, with the advent of pharmacogenomics and the vast pharmacogenetic studies performed in the last two decades, this is set to change in future. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.