Drug-drug-gene interactions as mediators of adverse drug reactions to diclofenac and statins: a case report and literature review

Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2021 Jun 28;72(3):114-128. doi: 10.2478/aiht-2021-72-3549.

Abstract

Concomitant treatment with drugs that inhibit drug metabolising enzymes and/or transporters, such as commonly prescribed statins and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), has been associated with prolonged drug exposure and increased risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) due to drug-drug interactions. The risk is further increased in patients with chronic diseases/comorbidities who are more susceptible because of their genetic setup or external factors. In that light, we present a case of a 46-year-old woman who had been experiencing acute renal and hepatic injury and myalgia over two years of concomitant treatment with diclofenac, atorvastatin, simvastatin/fenofibrate, and several other drugs, including pantoprazole and furosemide. Our pharmacogenomic findings supported the suspicion that ADRs, most notably the multi-organ toxicity experienced by our patient, may be owed to drug-drug-gene interactions and increased bioavailability of the prescribed drugs due to slower detoxification capacity and decreased hepatic and renal elimination. We also discuss the importance of CYP polymorphisms in the biotransformation of endogenous substrates such as arachidonic acid and their modulating role in pathophysiological processes. Yet even though the risks of ADRs related to the above mentioned drugs are substantially evidenced in literature, pre-emptive pharmacogenetic analysis has not yet found its way into common clinical practice.

Statini i nesteroidni protuupalni lijekovi (NSAID) učestalo se propisuju, pa i kao konkomitantna terapija. Postoji značajna interindividualna razlika u osjetljivosti na njihove najčešće nuspojave. Rizični čimbenici za razvoj nuspojava tih lijekova mogu biti povezani s lijekom i pacijentom ili s vanjskim čimbenicima. Polifarmacija je česta u kroničnih bolesnika i povećava rizik od razvoja interakcija lijekova. Istodobna primjena lijekovima koji inhibiraju CYP, UGT, ABC i / ili SLC prijenosnike lijekova (ABCB1, ABCG2 i OATP1B1) povezana je s produljenjem bioraspoloživosti lijekova, što rezultira povećanim rizikom od razvoja nuspojava. S tim u vezi, predstavljamo slučaj 46-godišnje žene koja je tijekom dvije godine doživjela akutno oštećenje bubrega i jetre, kao i mialgiju, dok je uzimala diklofenak, atorvastatin, fiksnu kombinaciju simvastatina / fenofibrata istovremeno s nekoliko drugih lijekova, uključujući pantoprazol i furosemid. Analiza dobivenih farmakogenetičkih rezultata te pregled dosadašnjeg znanja u tom području upućuju na zaključke da interakcije lijek-lijekgen mogu produljiti bioraspoloživost primijenjenih lijekova. Mehanizam se argumentirano temelji na sporijoj sposobnosti detoksikacije i smanjenoj eliminaciji putem jetre i bubrega, što rezultira toksičnošću za više organa. Jednako tako, prikazuje se važnost polimorfizama CYP u biotransformaciji endogenih supstrata poput arahidonske kiseline i u njihovoj modulacijskoj ulozi u patofiziološkim procesima. Danas postoje prilično značajni znanstveni dokazi o određenim farmakogenetičkim spoznajama koji rezultiraju povećanim rizikom od razvoja nuspojava za spomenute lijekove, no unatoč tomu, farmakogenetička analiza prije uvođenja lijekova u terapiju još nije uvedena u redovitu kliničku praksu.

Keywords: drug interactions; farmakogenetika; hepatotoksičnost; hepatotoxicity; interakcije lijekova; miotoksičnost; myotoxicity; nefrotoksičnost; nephrotoxicity; pharmacogenetics.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diclofenac / adverse effects
  • Drug Interactions
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors* / adverse effects
  • Middle Aged
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations*

Substances

  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Diclofenac