The HLA-B*15:02 gene is an immune marker common in some Asian populations; if you have it, carbamazepine can trigger a severe, life-threatening skin reaction. We screen for it in our genetics lab before starting the drug for epilepsy, because prevention is the only real treatment.
But I'll tell you, in my clinic, the bigger worry is the patient who tests negative and still gets a rash—our reports give a false sense of security, like thinking one spice is the whole curry. I saw a man from my own hometown, Mandya, with blisters covering his skin, his report clear as day. It haunts me that our science is still swalpa incomplete.
#life#career
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