RT Journal
A1 Voelker R
T1 CHildren’s deaths linked with postsurgical codeine
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2012
FD September 12
VO 308
IS 10
SP 963
OP 963
DO 10.1001/2012.jama.11525
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/2012.jama.11525
AB 
The surgeries were performed to treat obstructive sleep apnea. FDA officials said it appeared that the 3 children who died, who were aged 2 to 5 years, were “ultrarapid metabolizers” who metabolize codeine much more quickly and completely than others. This trait results from a gene variant that makes the drug-metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 2D6 in the liver more active (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm313631.htm). Overall prevalence of the inherited trait is 1% to 7% but reaches 29% in Ethiopian populations, the FDA reported. The agency has approved genetic tests that can detect the trait.