Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
08:38
Quantification of the Immunosuppressant Tacrolimus on Dried Blood Spots Using LC-MS/MS
Published on: November 8, 2015
How should thiopurine treatment be monitored?--methodological aspects
S Vikingsson1, B Carlsson, S Almer
1Division of Drug Research, Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping University, Linkoping, Sweden. svante.vikingsson@liu.se
Nucleosides, Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids
|June 15, 2010
Summary
Monitoring thiopurine metabolites is crucial but current methods are inadequate. Future research should focus on specific nucleotide measurement in mononuclear cells and DNA incorporation for better accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Monitoring thiopurine metabolites is vital due to complex metabolism and significant interindividual variability.
- Current monitoring methods exhibit drawbacks such as poor reproducibility and inability to differentiate analytes.
- The use of a non-target matrix in existing assays limits their precision and diagnostic utility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the limitations of current thiopurine metabolite monitoring techniques.
- To propose improved methodologies for more accurate thiopurine metabolite analysis.
- To guide future research towards more reliable and specific diagnostic approaches.
Main Methods:
- The abstract does not detail specific experimental methods but discusses the requirements for future research.
- Focus on measuring specific thiopurine nucleotides within mononuclear cells.
- Analysis of thioguanine incorporation into DNA.
Main Results:
- Current methods for monitoring thiopurine metabolites are suboptimal.
- Existing assays lack the specificity and reproducibility required for precise clinical application.
- There is a need for advanced analytical techniques to overcome current limitations.
Conclusions:
- Improved methods are essential for accurate thiopurine metabolite monitoring.
- Future research should prioritize measuring specific nucleotides (e.g., thioguanosine, methylthioinosine) in mononuclear cells.
- Assessing thioguanine incorporation into DNA is recommended for enhanced therapeutic drug monitoring.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Drug Analysis Methods
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is a clinical practice that measures specific drug levels in a patient's blood or body tissues to tailor drug therapy effectively. This monitoring is critical for managing drugs with narrow therapeutic indices like digoxin and phenytoin, ensuring they are both safe and effective. For instance, monitoring theophylline levels in asthma patients involves precision and sensitivity to adjust doses according to individual responses to therapy, ensuring efficacy and...
01:27Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
Phase II biotransformation reactions are essential for detoxifying and eliminating xenobiotics, including many pharmaceutical compounds. These reactions typically involve conjugation, the covalent attachment of polar endogenous groups such as glucuronic acid, sulfate, methyl, or acetyl moieties to functional groups introduced during Phase I metabolism. The resulting conjugates are more water-soluble, enabling efficient renal or biliary excretion.The major classes of Phase II enzymes include...
01:16Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Overview and Classification
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is a clinical practice that measures specific drug levels in a patient's blood at designated intervals to ensure the drug concentration stays within a therapeutic range. This monitoring is crucial for optimizing individual dosage regimens, enhancing therapeutic efficacy, and minimizing drug-related toxicity. TDM is vital for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, significant variability in pharmacokinetics, and a clear correlation between plasma levels and...
01:29Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) is the clinical practice of measuring specific drug levels in a patient's blood or body tissues to manage and optimize therapy. TDM is crucial for drugs with narrow therapeutic windows, like warfarin and phenytoin, where incorrect doses can lead to treatment failure or severe side effects. This monitoring ensures the dosage administered is within a safe and effective range. The factors affecting therapeutic drug monitoring include:Patient-Specific Factors:a.
01:22Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess the...
01:11Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...