Aim: The association of transporters gene polymorphisms with chloroquine/primaquine malaria treatment response was investigated in a Brazilian population.
Patients & methods: Totally, 164 Plasmodium vivax malaria infected patients were included. Generalized estimating equations were performed to determine gene influences on parasitemia and/or gametocytemia clearance over treatment time.
Results: Significant interaction between SLCO2B1 genotypes and treatment over time for parasitemia clearance rate on day 2 were observed (p FDR = 0.002). SLCO1A2 and SLCO1B1 gene treatment over time interactions were associated with gametocytemia clearance rate (p FDR = 0.018 and p FDR = 0.024). ABCB1, ABCC4 and SLCO1B3 were not associated with treatment response.
Conclusion: The present work presents the first pharmacogenetic report of an association between chloroquine/primaquine responses with OATP transporters.
Keywords: chloroquine and primaquine; malaria; transporter genes.