Genetic Polymorphisms and Disease

Abstract

Genetic causes of individual variation in drug response can be divided into two categories. First, conditions characterized by abnormal metabolism of drugs by the body. Second, conditions in which drugs or metabolites act abnormally on the body due to genetically altered receptor sites. Genetic polymorphism of drug metabolizing enzymes gives rise to distinct subgroups in the population that differ in their ability to perform a certain drug biotransformation reaction. Individuals with deficient metabolism of certain drugs are called Poor Metabolizers or PM Phenotypes as compared to these ones which are called Normal Extensive Metabolizers or EM Phenotypes.