Murashko urges genetic factors to be considered in antithrombotic treatment

Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on October 10 that personalized antithrombotic treatment requires pharmacogenetics to be considered. He spoke at the fourth national congress on combating thrombosis in Russia.

The minister estimated that genetic characteristics account for 50% of variation in individual treatment response. He attributed the other half to age, disease severity, liver and kidney function, concurrent medicines, diet and harmful habits.

Murashko said clinicians should take these differences into account when individualizing care. The proportion is his assessment and does not establish an identical balance of factors for every medicine or patient.

Genetic effects on particular antithrombotic medicines are documented in pharmacogenetic guidance. For example, CPIC’s clopidogrel guideline describes reduced platelet inhibition in some people with CYP2C19 variants. That is a specific gene-drug association, rather than a universal estimate for every treatment.