Method and kit for testing drug hypersensitivity reactions caused by sulfonamide derivative-based antiepileptic drug and use of the kit

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for assessing the risk of drug hypersensitivity reaction caused by an antiepileptic drug with a sulfonamide derivative in a subject in need of such an assessment, comprising the step of detecting the presence of HLA-B alleles in the sample obtained from the subject, wherein the presence of the allele indicates that the subject has an increased risk of developing drug hypersensitivity reaction caused by the antiepileptic drug with the sulfonamide derivative. The present invention also provides a method for treating or reducing the incidence of such drug hypersensitivity reaction. Also provided are a test kit for assessing the risk of a patient developing drug hypersensitivity reaction caused by an antiepileptic drug with a sulfonamide derivative, comprising a reagent for determining specific HLA alleles, and use of the test kit in assessing the risk of a patient developing drug hypersensitivity reaction caused by an antiepileptic drug with a sulfonamide derivative.