Drug acetylation speed (NAT2)

NAT2 is a liver enzyme that breaks down several drugs (like the TB antibiotic isoniazid, some sulfa drugs and hydralazine) by 'acetylating' them. People are 'fast' or 'slow' acetylators, which changes drug levels and side-effect risk.

Possible results

Faster acetylator (NAT2). By this NAT2 tag you lean toward being a 'fast acetylator', clearing drugs like isoniazid and some sulfa medicines relatively quickly. This mostly matters around those specific drugs, and a tag SNP gives the general tendency rather than a precise phenotype.

Intermediate acetylator. By this NAT2 tag you fall in the intermediate range for acetylating drugs like isoniazid. Acetylator status mainly matters around those specific medicines, and this single marker is an approximation of the full NAT2 picture.

Slower acetylator (NAT2). By this NAT2 tag you lean toward being a 'slow acetylator', so drugs cleared by NAT2 (such as the TB antibiotic isoniazid, hydralazine, or some sulfonamides) can build up to higher levels and cause more side effects. It's worth knowing if you're ever prescribed those, though a tag SNP is only an approximation of the full picture.

Evidence & sources

Across global populations, about 51% of people carry two copies of this variant, and about 9% carry none.

This variant appears in 3 published genetic studies: PubMed 20972438 · PubMed 24163127 · PubMed 37210288.

Related

Abacavir hypersensitivity (HLA-B*57:01) · CYP2C19 metabolizer status (clopidogrel & others) · Fluoropyrimidine (5-FU) toxicity risk · Gilbert syndrome (UGT1A1 gene) · Hepatitis C treatment response (IL28B) · Tacrolimus metabolism (CYP3A5 gene) · Warfarin dose sensitivity