Drugs affected by ALDH2
About ALDH2
ALDH2 clears acetaldehyde, the toxic metabolite produced when your body breaks down alcohol. The ALDH2*2 variant (rs671) produces an almost completely inactive enzyme, and is present in about 30 to 50 percent of people of East Asian descent. Carriers experience the classic 'Asian flush' (facial flushing, rapid heartbeat, and nausea) even after small amounts of alcohol because acetaldehyde builds up faster than they can clear it.[1]
ALDH2*2 carriers have strongly reduced risk of alcohol use disorder, but a meaningfully elevated risk of esophageal cancer if they continue to drink. The flushing is a useful signal to drink less, not just an inconvenience.
What we test for ALDH2
Gene2Rx uses definitions covering 2 named ALDH2 alleles, built from 1 variant in Gene2Rx definitions. Results depend on the variants available in your upload.
- Named alleles
- 2
- Defined variants
- 1
- Source
- Gene2Rx definitions
- Genome build
- GRCh38
- Normal Function 1
- Decreased Function 1
What do these allele names mean?
ALDH2 alleles are named by the underlying DNA variant rather than a star number. For example, c.61C>T describes a single base change at position 61 of the coding sequence.
DNA variant labels identify sequence differences. Their interpretation depends on the particular gene, the evidence, and the variants that can be assessed in your data. A DNA result does not directly measure enzyme activity.
The source of these definitions is listed above. Missing variants or incomplete coverage can leave a result indeterminate.
Medications with ALDH2 information
This list contains 1 medication with ALDH2 information from the sources shown below. Evidence and report eligibility differ by drug; each page explains its scope and limitations.
References
- PharmGKB / Stanford University. PharmGKB: The Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base. pharmgkb.org
Explore ALDH2 in your report
Informational only, not medical advice. The presence of a ALDH2 pharmacogenetic guideline does not mean every patient needs to change their dose. Never start, stop, or change a medication without talking to your prescribing clinician.