CYP2C19 and Voriconazole

For the TREATMENT of invasive fungal infections:

Ultrarapid Metabolizer

Clinical Implication

  • Increased CYP2C19 enzyme activity.
  • Increased risk of subtherapeutic concentrations and treatment failure.

Therapeutic Recommendation

  • Choose an alternative agent that is not dependent on CYP2C19 metabolism (e.g., isavuconazole, liposomal amphotericin B, and posaconazole).

Rapid Metabolizer

Clinical Implication

  • Increased CYP2C19 enzyme activity.
  • Increased risk of subtherapeutic concentrations and treatment failure.

Therapeutic Recommendation

  • Choose an alternative agent that is not dependent on CYP2C19 metabolism (e.g., isavuconazole, liposomal amphotericin B, and posaconazole).
  • For pediatric patients:  Alternatively may be acceptable to initiate standard dosing with therapeutic drug monitoring, however it may be difficult to obtain therapeutic levels in a timely manner.

Normal Metabolizer

Clinical Implication

  • Normal CYP2C19 enzyme activity.
  • Normal response expected.

Therapeutic Recommendation

  • Use standard dose of voriconazole.

Intermediate Metabolizer

Clinical Implication

  • Decreased CYP2C19 enzyme activity.
  • Higher dose-adjusted trough concentrations and potential for increased risk of adverse effects (e.g., hepatotoxicity, visual disturbances, visual hallucinations, and other neurologic disorders).

Therapeutic Recommendation

  • Use standard dose of voriconazole.

Poor Metabolizer

Clinical Implication

  • No CYP2C19 enzyme activity.
  • Increased risk of adverse effects (e.g., hepatotoxicity, visual disturbances, visual hallucinations, and other neurologic disorders).

Therapeutic Recommendation

  • Choose alternative agent that is not dependent on CYP2C19 metabolism (e.g., isavuconazole, liposomal amphotericin B, and posaconazole).
  • If voriconazole is warranted, administer lower doses with therapeutic drug monitoring.

Unable to Genotype or Assay Failure

  • The analysis failed to yield an informative result and thus no genotype is reported.

Unknown Phenotype

  • This individual is carrying at least one allele with uncertain/unknown function and the predicted phenotype cannot be determined at this time.

Reference

  • Moriyama B et al. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2017 Jul;102(1):45-51. PMID: 27981572.

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