A patient's genotype for the aldehyde dehydrogenase gene (ALDH2) may determine how a person metabolizes alcohol.
A person who is homozygous for ALDH2*2 (ALDH2*2/ALDH2*2) tends to:
(1) drink very little alcohol
(2) have extreme reactions following alcohol intake with tachycardia, hypotension, nausea and vomiting
(3) have severe hangovers if continue to drink
A person who is heterozygous for ALDH2*2 (ALDH2*2/ALDH2*1) tends to:
(1) drink less alcohol than people homozygous for ALDH2*1
(2) show physiologic responses after drinking that may include facial flushing and tachycardia
(3) show higher concentrations of blood acetaldehyde after drinking
(4) tend to have severe hangovers
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Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
ICD-10: ,
