Abstract

Pharmacogenetics as one of the areas of clinical pharmacology addresses hereditary factors involved in individually different responses to drugs. Clinical trials combined with molecular genetics seek for underlying reasons influencing efficacy and toxicity of drugs. The declared goal of pharmacogenetics is to provide physicians with knowledge and tools to allow an individualized patient-directed pharmacotherapy. This concept is best evolved for clinical practice in the field of drug-metabolizing enzymes, especially for the cytochromes P450 (CYP) 2D6, CYP2C19 and thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT). Patients with inherited enzyme deficiencies are at risk to accumulate excessive drug concentrations when treated with standard doses which may lead to adverse drug reactions or even to life-threatening conditions. Genetic factors are also involved in drug-target interactions (e. g. receptors). Prospective controlled clinical trials are needed to evaluate the benefit of pharmacogenetics for therapy outcome and to define its role in clinical practice.