To evaluate the clinical utility of HLA-B*15:02 screening in pediatric patients considered for carbamazepine therapy and to observe the frequency of the allele.
Key Findings:
21.4% of patients tested positive for HLA-B*15:02.
All genotype-positive patients had their treatment plans altered to avoid carbamazepine.
No severe cutaneous adverse reactions were observed during the follow-up period.
Interpretation:
HLA-B*15:02 screening is feasible in a provincial hospital setting and can lead to safer prescribing practices for carbamazepine in pediatric patients.
Limitations:
Small sample size limits generalizability.
Findings should not be interpreted as population prevalence estimates.
Conclusion:
HLA-B*15:02 screening may assist in safer prescribing of carbamazepine in pediatric practice, warranting larger multicenter studies for broader implications.
