Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling in anesthetic field

Han, Dong Woo

Review

Anesthetic Pharmacology

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2014;9(2):77-86.
Published online April 30, 2014.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling in anesthetic field

Dong Woo Han

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. hanesth@yuhs.ac

Received: 8 January 2014

Abstract

Models are simplified descriptions of true biological processes. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling is a mathematical description on the relationship between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The PK/PD modeling allows estimation of PK/PD parameters and it can establish dose-concentration-response relationships which describe and predict the effect-time courses of a drug. PK/PD modeling has recently emerged as a major tool in clinical pharmacology in order to optimize drug uses by designing rational dosage forms. Population analysis is used to estimate the variability in the population and also to establish guidelines for the individualization of drug dosage regimen. Non-linear mixed effect model is the basis of population approach. This approach permits the simultaneous analysis for all the data of the studied population, by using either PK or PD models to describe the typical trends (population means) and individual profiles. The target controlled infusion system is based on the population PK models which describe the inter-individual PK variability by individualizing the PK parameters according to the patient's covariate. The PK/PD modeling is highly useful for the development of drugs as well as for pharmacotherapy.

Key Words: Non-linear mixed effect model, Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model, Population analysis, Target controlled infusion