Biotransformation of drugs

Abstract

Drug administration to human beings often generates an unexpected pharmacological response that may be determined by its abnormal plasmatic concentration and may consequently produce several undesirable effects. The analysis of this fact reveals that these effects are directly connected with the biotransformation process. Biotransformation of drugs generally involves specific biochemical reactions in each of whose stages highly ordered enzymatic sequences participate. The production of these enzymes in its turn is genetically determined through translation and transcription processes. An abnormality in the codifying genes of the enzyme production responsible for the biotransformation of drugs may generate alterations in the therapeutical response. Moreover, many substances may interfere in the biotransformation process through inhibition or induction of the enzymes responsible for the metabolism of drugs. Thus the aim of this paper is to emphasize biotransformation as one of the major pharmacokinetic stages responsible for drug therapeutic activity and analyze the genetic factors that may interfere in this process