Reactions 659 - 12 Jul 1997

Focus on gender-specific adversereactions

Compared with men, women have a greater risk ofdeveloping torsade de pointes after exposure topotassium channel blocking drugs, according to DrRaymond Woosley, the Blue Sheet reports. Dr Woosleysays that ‘research into the mechanism of this and othergender-specific adverse reactions is necessary to reducethe unwanted consequences of drug therapy for womenand may additionally lead to improved therapy for men,children and the elderly.’

Dr Woosley presented data on gender-specificadverse drug reactions at a conference on women’shealth issues held in New Orleans, US on 12 June. Thegreater risk of torsade de pointes in women, comparedwith men, has been seen with antiarrhythmics, someantihistamines, antibacterials andpsychopharmacological agents. Although themechanism for this gender-specific effect has not yetbeen identified, Dr Woosley suggests that the increasedrisk of torsade de pointes in women may be due tohormonal effects on the expression of cardiac potassiumchannels.

Certain factors need to be investigatedDr Woosley also presented data for an unpublished

study which showed that although women have lowerplasma concentrations of propranolol than men, theresponses to this agent are the same in men andwomen. He thus emphasises the importance ofindividualisation of therapy. Dr Woosley says that themajority of studies on pharmacokinetic differences ofdrugs in men and women mainly compare drugconcentrations, rather than drug effect. In his opinion,such studies are only a ‘Band-Aid on the problem’.

Dr Woosley stressed that certain gender-specificfactors that can affect both drug concentrations anddrug responses need to be investigated. These factorsinclude menopause, oral contraception, menstrualcycle, pregnancy and hormone replacement therapy.Clinically relevant research needed on adverse drug reactions in women -Georgestown’s Woosley. FDC Reports Blue Sheet - Health Policy - BiomedicalResearch 40: 8-10, 18 Jun 1997 800543853

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Reactions 12 Jul 1997 No. 6590114-9954/10/0659-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved