Relationship between pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics, and its impact on drug choice and dose regimens

Abstract

Pharmacokinetics can be defined as the relationship between the administered dose and plasma concentration of a drug, which implies the study of different processes, such as absorption, distribution, biotransformation, and elimination. In short, “what the organism does with the drug.” Pharmacokinetics determine the concentration of drugs in the recipient subject and, therefore, contribute to the intensity of the response observed. Modifications in pharmacokinetics help explain different responses between people since there may be different physiological situations, such as extreme age and organic failure (renal, hepatic) situations of hypo-hypervolemia. Pharmacokinetics parameters vary among subjects and also depend on the route of administration (Fig. 16.1).