SLCO1B1

When you take a medicine (or a drug), your body needs to find a way to use it.  Some proteins in your body carry medicines so that they can be used.  If your body can’t carry a medicine to the right place, this may cause the medicine to not work as well.  Or, it may cause a side effect.

 

The SLCO1B1 gene gives instructions to your body to make a protein.  This protein helps carry certain medicines so your body can use them.  Details about this gene can help your doctor decide what medicine is best to help lower your cholesterol.   

 

By testing your DNA, we can find DNA differences.  This can help us to see how well the proteins in your body work to carry different medicines.  The results of this test can help your doctor choose a certain medicine or a certain dose of medicine that is right for you.  The results of your SLCO1B1 gene test will place you into 1 of 3 groups:

• Normal function: People in this group are likely to have normal working SLCO1B1 proteins.  55% to 88% of people have SLCO1B1 normal function.
• Decreased function: People in this group may have reduced function of SLCO1B1 proteins.  11% to 36% of patients have SLCO1B1 decreased function.
• Poor function: People in this group may have very little or no active SLCO1B1 protein.  0% to 6% of patients have SLCO1B1 poor function.

SLCO1B1 proteins help carry certain medicines so your body can use them.  These medicines include statins, which are used to lower cholesterol.  Statins include the following medicines: 

• Atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin

These are the medicines that we know of right now that are impacted by SLCO1B1 gene test results.  Experts keep finding new data about which medicines are affected by gene test results.

 

The result of your SLCO1B1 gene test will place you into 1 of the 3 groups above (listed in overview). Knowing what group you are in may help your doctor to pick the right medicine and right dose for you.

 

If you have decreased or poor function of the S1CO1B1 gene, you may have a higher chance of muscle side effects when taking statins.  Based on your result, your doctor may choose to prescribe a different cholesterol medicine.  Or, your doctor may choose to prescribe a statin at a lower dose and then adjust the dose based on your response. 

The information you receive through this website is not intended to be medical advice.  The information you receive through this website will include genetic test results only.  If you need medical assistance, please seek care at an appropriate facility.  You should contact your doctor about any genetic test results that you receive from the Biobank.  Do not stop using or change any of your medicines before speaking with your doctor.

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