Asthma Combo Seems Less Influenced by Genes

Chelsea Parris
Nov 20 2009
1:28pm

This article discusses the fact that people's genetic makeup has been shown to affect how they respond to asthma medications. However, a new study finds that many people respond well to a particular combination treatment regardless of their genes. The study did find a difference in response among blacks. The drug combo in question combines Serevent and moderate doses of an inhaled corticosteroid. The genes in question relate to a receptor in the body that is crucial to the effectiveness of asthma bronchodilators. Some research has suggested that a variation in these genes can affect how people respond to the drugs. The researchers tested that theory in 87 people who had two types of the genetic variation. They found that lung function did not differ overall in the groups, although there was some difference in blacks. "These findings provide reassurance that, in the general population, patients should continue to be treated with long-acting beta-agonists plus moderate-dose inhaled corticosteroids irrespective of B16 genotype," the researchers wrote.
This is good news. That means that more people can be treated for asthma with the new research findings and genes will not be an issue. I wonder why there is a different finding in black. Asthma is a very common disease and I think research for it is very vital to many individual's health. I do hope that researchers can figure out why black aren't responding as well to the medication. It is clear that there is still research that needs to be done.

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