SLCO1B1 Pharmacogenomic Testing — Genolife Services
Why Genotyping Changes Statin
Transporter, not enzyme
Most statins require hepatic uptake via SLCO1B1. A key variant reduces uptake, increases plasma statin levels, and raises myopathy risk, especially with simvastatin.
Clinical Risk
CPIC (2022) classifies this as Level A evidence and recommends dose reduction or alternative statins for at-risk genotypes.
Effect Size
Myopathy odds can rise ~4.5-fold per risk allele, with markedly higher risk for carriers on high-dose simvastatin.
Practice Impact
Providing SLCO1B1 results before prescribing reduces risky simvastatin orders for at-risk patients.
How Common Is The Risk Variant?
| Population | Approximate Carrier Frequency |
|---|---|
| East & Southeast Asians | about 10–15% |
| Europeans | about 10–20% |
| Africans / African Americans | about 1–5% |
| Hispanic / Latino | up to ~20% in some groups |
Who Should Be Tested?
- Starting simvastatin ≥20 mg/day or any high-intensity statin – Highest evidence for genotype-guided harm reduction
- Prior unexplained statin muscle symptoms – Identifies likely decreased-function carriers
- Need for aggressive LDL-C lowering – Avoid preventable discontinuation
- Polypharmacy / multimorbidity – Reduces avoidable adverse events that derail therapy
Your Journey with Genolife Services
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Pre-test CounsellingReview benefits, limits, privacy, meds, and alternative statin strategies. |
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Sample CollectionSimple Blood Sampling. |
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Expert InterpretationMultidisciplinary review by a Clinical Geneticist, Genetic Counselor, Pharmacist, and Cardiologist. |
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Post testCoordination with your cardiologist and cascade testing for first-degree relatives. |
Ready to plan for a safer health future?
Contact us for a consultation with our Genetic Counselor/Pharmacogenomics Specialist about the Statin Myopathy Risk Panel or other genetic tests.
References
- CPIC Guideline (2022): SLCO1B1, ABCG2, CYP2C9 and statin-associated musculoskeletal symptoms.
- NCBI Medical Genetics Summaries: Simvastatin Therapy and SLCO1B1 Genotype.
- NEJM (SEARCH GWAS, 2008): SLCO1B1 variants strongly associated with statin-induced myopathy.
- PharmVar / Pharmacogene reviews: SLCO1B1 decreased-function haplotype frequencies by ancestry.
