What is it about?
This study explores why some people with high blood pressure respond well to the common medication amlodipine, while others do not. We looked at differences in certain genes—CACNA1D, CACNA1C, and TRIB3—that can affect how the drug works in the body. By studying 133 patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, we found that a specific change (called rs3774426 TT) in the CACNA1D gene was strongly linked to poor response. Other genetic variations, when combined, also influenced blood pressure control. Our findings suggest that testing for these genetic markers could help doctors choose the best treatment for each patient.
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Why is it important?
High blood pressure affects over a billion people worldwide, but not everyone responds the same way to medication. This research is important because it moves us closer to personalized treatment—using a patient’s genetic information to predict whether amlodipine will work for them. Identifying non-responders early can save time, reduce side effects, and improve blood pressure control, ultimately lowering the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. It also adds valuable data from a South Asian population, which has been underrepresented in pharmacogenomic studies.
Perspectives
This study highlights the growing role of pharmacogenomics in tackling one of the world’s biggest health problems—high blood pressure. By showing that certain genetic variations, especially in the CACNA1D gene, can predict who will not respond well to amlodipine, it opens the door to more tailored and effective treatment strategies. In the future, genetic screening could become a routine part of hypertension care, helping clinicians choose the right drug from the start. While further research in larger and more diverse populations is needed, our findings provide an important step toward precision medicine in cardiovascular health, particularly in underrepresented regions like South Asia.
Wahby Mohammed Babaresh
University of Aden
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Pharmacogenomic insights into amlodipine response: the role of CACNA1D, CACNA1C, and TRIB3 variants in hypertensive patients, PLOS One, August 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0329263.
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