Abstract Genetic variability in the host
metabolism of
antimalarial drugs influenced by the polymorphisms of
cytochrome P450 (CYP) could
lead to significant changes in
antimalarial treatment response. However, little is known about the frequency of
alleles CYP2B6,
CYP2C8, and
CYP2D6 in an Amazonian
population, especially with
vivax malaria. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the frequency of CYP
alleles CYP2B6*6,
CYP2C8*3, and
CYP2D6*4 in
patients with
vivax malaria. The study included 231
patients with
vivax malaria treated at a
health care reference in Manaus, northern
Brazil. A sample of peripheral
blood from each subject was collected to perform
DNA extraction and genotypic
analysis. Genotyping of polymorphisms was performed by allelic discrimination using
Real-time polymerase chain reaction. The
CYP2D6*4
allele was the most prevalent among
patients who developed severe
malaria. The frequencies of the
CYP2B6*6 and
CYP2D6*4 were not different between the severe and uncomplicated
malaria. There was a significant
association between heterozygous
CYP2D6*4 and severe cases of
malaria. The results are in agreement with other
reports described in the
literature for different
populations.
Future studies are needed to understand the clinical implications of the polymorphisms in
patients with
vivax malaria.