Treatment of Asian Flushing Syndrome With Topical Alpha Agonists

Summary

Asian Flushing Syndrome (AFS) is a genetic disease affecting approximately 70% of patients of East Asian descent characterized by severe flushing with minimal ethanol consumption. This reaction is cosmetically unattractive and socially limiting. Many Asian patients avoid drinking alcohol on dates, at weddings, and during business events because of this reaction and the perception of being drunk or alcoholic. Ethanol is normally metabolized to acetic acid by two enzymes. The first enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) converts ethanol to acetaldehyde. The second enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) converts the toxic acetaldehyde to harmless acetic acid. When ADH function is increased or ALDH2 function is decreased, the toxic intermediate acetaldehyde accumulates resulting in cutaneous flushing. Over 70% of East Asians have genetic polymorphisms in either ADH or ALDH2 leading to intense flushing with ethanol consumption. There are no effective topical treatments for the Asian Flushing Syndrome. Oral antihistamines have been used with some success in treating symptoms of Asian Flushing Syndrome; however these can have sedating effects and may be dangerous in combination with alcohol. Brimonidine is a selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist that acts through vasoconstriction and is commercially available in a topical gel. This topical treatment is FDA approved for the indication of facial flushing and has a long history of safety in human subjects.

Timeline

Start

2018-07-12

Primary completion

2019-03-25

Completion

2019-03-25

Publications

• Background Brooks PJ, Enoch MA, Goldman D, Li TK, Yokoyama A. The alcohol flushing response: an unrecognized risk factor for esophageal cancer from alcohol consumption. PLoS Med. 2009 Mar 24;6(3):e50. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000050.
• Background Eng MY, Luczak SE, Wall TL. ALDH2, ADH1B, and ADH1C genotypes in Asians: a literature review. Alcohol Res Health. 2007;30(1):22-7.
• Background Miller NS, Goodwin DW, Jones FC, Gabrielli WF, Pardo MP, Anand MM, Hall TB. Antihistamine blockade of alcohol-induced flushing in orientals. J Stud Alcohol. 1988 Jan;49(1):16-20. doi: 10.15288/jsa.1988.49.16.
• Background Altura BM, Carella A, Altura BT. Acetaldehyde on vascular smooth muscle: possible role in vasodilator action of ethanol. Eur J Pharmacol. 1978 Nov 1;52(1):73-83. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(78)90023-7.
• Yu WY, Lu B, Tan D, Aroyan C, Shinkai K, Leslie KS, Fox LP, Yu S, Neuhaus IM, Grekin RC, Arron ST. Effect of Topical Brimonidine on Alcohol-Induced Flushing in Asian Individuals: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol. 2020 Feb 1;156(2):182-185. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2019.3508.

Drugs

Indications