Genome-wide association study of serious blistering skin rash caused by drugs

Pharmacogenomics J. 2012 Apr;12(2):96-104. doi: 10.1038/tpj.2010.84. Epub 2011 Jan 11.

Abstract

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare but severe, potentially life threatening adverse drug reactions characterized by skin blistering. Previous studies have identified drug-specific and population-specific genetic risk factors with large effects. In this study, we report the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of SJS/TEN induced by a variety of drugs. Our aim was to identify common genetic risk factors with large effects on SJS/TEN risk. We conducted a genome-wide analysis of 96 retrospective cases and 198 controls with a panel of over one million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We further improved power with about 4000 additional controls from publicly available datasets. No genome-wide significant associations with SNPs or copy number variants were observed, although several genomic regions were suggested that may have a role in predisposing to drug-induced SJS/TEN. Our GWAS did not find common, highly penetrant genetic risk factors responsible for SJS/TEN events in the cases selected.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Genome-Wide Association Study*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Principal Component Analysis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / chemically induced*
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / etiology*
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / genetics