Genomic Biomarkers Associated with the Risk of Sulfasalazine-Induced Drug Eruptions

Abstract

Advancements in comprehensive analytical methods, such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS), have revealed numerous associations of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles with the risk of developing drug-induced eruptions. Using these genomic biomarkers, individualized pharmacotherapy is increasingly being offered to patients at high risk of drug eruptions. Consequently, the identification of these genomic biomarkers is a crucial aspect of implementing precision medicine in drug therapy into society. Recently, we identified HLA-A*11:01, HLA-B*39:01, and HLA-B*56:03 as independently associated with the risk of drug eruptions induced by sulfasalazine, a medication used to treat ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis. In this article, we introduce the HLA alleles associated with sulfasalazine-induced drug eruptions and review recent findings on genomic biomarkers related to drug eruptions.