Pain Genomics

Debra A. Schwinn, MD, Alex Cahana, MD, PhD

Debra A. Schwinn, MD
Professor and Chair—Department of Anesthesiology
University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle, WA

Alex Cahana, MD, PhD
Professor—Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Adjunct Professor—Bioethics and Humanities, Radiology
Chief—Division of Pain Medicine
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
University of Washington Medical Center for Pain Relief
Seattle, WA

Patients may have genetic alleles that affect pain sensitivity or increase the risk for chronic pain development. Alternatively, polymorphisms in genes encoding signaling receptors, metabolic enzymes, and enzymes that mediate medication bioavailability will affect patient responses to medical management. For instance, single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene encoding the mu-opioid receptor contribute to variability in patient responses to opioids. Already, genomic analyses have facilitated methods to predict patient pain after surgery, diagnose chronic pain syndromes, monitor interventional drug therapy, and evaluate response to other interventions. At the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, Dr. Schwinn delivered a plenary talk on various areas of genomics and their significant implications for the current and future practice of clinical pain medicine.

References

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