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Guerra et al. J Transl Genet Genom 2022;6:304-21 Journal of Translational
DOI: 10.20517/jtgg.2022.08
Genetics and Genomics

Review Open Access

Neurogenic dysphagia: current pharmacogenomic
perspectives

2
Joaquin Guerra 1 , Vinogran Naidoo , Ramón Cacabelos 3
1
Neuro-Otolaryngology Unit, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Medical Science and Genomic Medicine,
Bergondo 15165, Corunna, Spain.
2
Department of Neuroscience, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research
Center, Bergondo 15165, Corunna, Spain.
3
Genomic Medicine, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, Institute of Medical Science and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo
15165, Corunna, Spain.
Correspondence to: Dr. Joaquin Guerra, Neuro-Otolaryngology Unit, EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International
Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Bergondo 15165, Corunna, Spain. E-mail: neuroorl@euroespes.com

How to cite this article: Guerra J, Naidoo V, Cacabelos R. Neurogenic dysphagia: current pharmacogenomic perspectives. J
Transl Genet Genom 2022;6:304-21. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/jtgg.2022.08
Received: 17 Mar 2022 First Decision: 17 May 2022 Revised: 18 May 2022 Accepted: 30 May 2022 Published: 1 Jul 2022

Academic Editor: Shu-Feng Lei Copy Editor: Fangling Lan Production Editor: Fangling Lan

Abstract
Neurogenic dysphagia (ND) is characterized by a swallowing disorder where nervous system, muscle, and
neuromuscular diseases are involved. DRD1, COMT, BDNF, and APOE are genes that may have a predictive role in
the occurrence and evolution of ND. Many drugs that improve swallowing or can induce or exacerbate swallowing
difficulties are related to dopamine metabolism and substance P. These pharmacological treatments for ND include
dopamine precursors (levodopa), dopamine agonists (amantadine, apomorphine, cabergoline, and rotigotine), and
TRP channel activators (capsaicin, piperine, and menthol). Since treatment outcomes are highly dependent on the
genomic profiles of ND patients, personalized treatments should rely on pharmacogenetic procedures to optimize
therapeutic interventions. Knowledge of the pharmacogenetic profiles of these drugs would minimize the
occurrence of adverse drug reactions (especially to antidopaminergic medications) that may induce dysphagia and
optimize pharmacological treatment that can ameliorate it. This knowledge should also be applied to the use of
medications that control symptoms associated with dysphagia, such as sialorrhea, xerostomia, reflux, or hiccups.
Keywords: Oropharyngeal dysphagia, neurogenic dysphagia, pharmacogenomics, dopamine, dopaminergics,
antidopaminergics, TRP genes

© The Author(s) 2022. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, sharing,
adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as
long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and
indicate if changes were made.

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