Pharmacokinetic polymorphisms

Abstract

A polymorphism is a genetic variant that leads to at least two non-rare phenotypes with a frequency of 1% or greater in a population. When the variant is in a gene that codifies proteins involved in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion (ADME), it is a pharmacokinetic polymorphism. A pharmacokinetic polymorphism can alter the plasmatic level of medication and therefore alter the response. Depending on the type of variant and the pharmacokinetic process involved, a polymorphism could conduce to different security profiles of drugs or modify the therapeutic effectiveness.