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Published on: July 29, 2014
[Genetic polymorphisms and human sensitivity to pain and opioids]
Daisuke Nishizawa1, Makoto Nagashima, Yasuo Satoh
1Division of Psychobiology, Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, Tokyo 156-8585.
Masui. the Japanese Journal of Anesthesiology
|September 22, 2009
Summary
Individual pain and opioid analgesic sensitivity varies due to genetic and environmental factors. Understanding genetic polymorphisms, like single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), improves pain management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacogenomics
- Pain Medicine
- Neuroscience
Context:
- Individual variability in pain sensitivity and response to opioid analgesics is a significant clinical challenge.
- Current dosing strategies may lead to underdosing or overdosing due to this variability.
Purpose:
- To review the evidence linking genetic polymorphisms to individual differences in pain sensitivity and opioid response.
- To highlight the role of molecular pathways in pain signaling and opioid pharmacology.
Summary:
- Genetic factors, particularly single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), significantly influence pain perception and opioid efficacy.
- Advances in genotyping technologies facilitate the identification of associations between genetic variations and clinical outcomes.
- Understanding these genetic associations is crucial for personalized pain management.
Impact:
- This review provides a foundation for developing more precise and effective pain management therapies.
- Identifying genetic markers can guide opioid prescribing, minimizing adverse events and optimizing analgesia.
- Advances in pharmacogenomics hold promise for improving patient outcomes in pain treatment.
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