Genetics and the variability of treatment response in asthma.

Pharmacogenetics is the study of how genetic differences influence the variability in patients' responses to therapy. Using specific examples in asthma, I will define the concepts of variability in response to therapy in asthma. I will then use the relationship between specific genetic polymorphisms and the response to beta-adrenergic agonists and leukotriene modifiers to illustrate pharmacogenetic interactions and to acquaint the reader with the applicability of these findings to clinical practice.