Prevalence of the Genetic Mutation CYP2C8*5 in Selected Ethnic Groups in Southern Ghana

Aim: The  study  determined  prevalence  of  clinically  relevant  CYP2C8*5 polymorphism  in  80
unrelated individuals, from selected ethnic groups in Southern Ghana. Medical history on adverse
drug reactions of the subjects and level of dependencyon drugs metabolized by CYP2C8 enzyme
was obtained by  questionnaire. Allele  Specific-PCR  analyses were  used to genotype  CYP2C8*5
alleles in the study subjects.
Results:  Allelic frequency for  CYP2C8*5was 83.75% which was statistically significant (p<0.05). There was no significant difference (p> 0.05) in the prevalence of CYP2C8*5allele within the ethnic groups. Also, there was no significant association (p >0.05) between CYP2C8*5allele and reported ADRs.  Many  (88.75%)  of  the  study  subjects  depended  highly  (>1-3x  in  a  year)  on  drugs metabolized by CYP2C8. Conclusions:  The high prevalence of CYP2C8*5determined in the study population may indicate a high risk of toxicity in using drugs metabolize by CYP2C8 since  CYP2C8*5mutants have been reported  to  have  a  reduced  enzymatic  activity.  This  is  the  first  reported  study  on  prevalence  of  CYP2C8*5 in Ghanaians.