Ann Moyer, M.D., Ph.D., explains Mayo Clinic Laboratories' genotype evaluation for thiopurine metabolization. This test, TPNUQ, evaluates two genes – TPMT and NUDT15 – for variations strongly associated with thiopurine-related toxicity. Performed prior to therapy initiation, TPNUQ examines more alleles than other clinically available genotype tests, enabling clarity for more patients whose ethnic backgrounds might put them at greater risk for medication-related toxicity.
Show Notes
Before we get started, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your role here at Mayo Clinic?
Will you start by telling us a little bit about what thiopurines are, and give us a brief overview of the test and how the results are used with patients affected by inflammatory bowel syndrome?
If like you said, the patients don't metabolize these drugs, well, you might actually make the situation worse by taking the medications?
According to the Crohn's and ulcerative colitis organizations around six to 10 people with these conditions end up taking these medications at some point in their life, including children, is that correct?
So who exactly is this test recommended for it? And when would you say is the best time for the patient to have the test performed? Does the patient wait for the symptoms to arise or is it recommended that the labs are run before the medications are prescribed?
When this test was developed, it was developed for use with all patients in mind, but the studies around the test have shown some really interesting data in regard to certain groups of patients for whom it may be more important. Would you care to expand on that?
If the Patient had not taken this test. How else would the patient be aware of these types of issues? Are there other test options that they could use? And if so, how are those other test options different from what we do here at Mayo Clinic Labs?
Is there anything else you'd like to add to kind of remind someone why they should consider this test?