Combined effect of CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 genotypes on escitalopram serum concentration and its metabolic ratio in a European patient population

Abstract

AimsThe aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of CYP2D6 genotype on exposure and metabolism of escitalopram in patients stratified by CYP2C19 genotype in a large real‐world population.MethodsPatients were included from a therapeutic drug monitoring service if they had measured serum concentration of escitalopram and the metabolite, N‐desmethyl escitalopram, and performed CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 genotyping. Patients were divided into 16 combined genotype‐predicted phenotype subgroups (poor [PM], intermediate [IM], normal [NM] and ultrarapid metabolizers [UM]) of CYP2C19/CYP2D6. The concentration‐to‐dose (CD) ratio and metabolite‐to‐parent ratio (metabolic ratio) of escitalopram were compared across subgroups using the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Dunn's test with CYP2D6 NMs as the reference group.ResultsA total of 5067 patients were included in the study. A stepwise increase in escitalopram CD ratio by decreasing CYP2D6 activity was observed in all CYP2C19 subgroups, except for in CYP2C19 UMs. The percentage differences in escitalopram CD ratio between CYP2D6 PMs and NMs were 24% in CYP2C19 NMs (P < .001), 28% in CYP2C19 IMs (P < .001) and 31% in CYP2C19 PMs (P = .04). As for the CD ratio, CYP2D6 genotype effect on metabolic ratio increased stepwise by decreasing CYP2C19 metabolism.ConclusionsCYP2D6 genotype is of significant importance for the individual variation in escitalopram pharmacokinetics. The most relevant increase in escitalopram concentration is seen in individuals with decreased and/or absent CYP2C19 activity. By combining CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 genotypes, the optimal dose for patients may be predicted with greater precision than for CYP2C19 genotype alone.