Personalized Medicine of Long-Acting Aripiprazole: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Pharmacogenetics

Abstract

In this doctoral thesis, the clinical implementation of personalized medicine in the field of psychiatry has been addressed, specifically regarding therapy with long-acting injectable aripiprazole. To this end, the plasma concentrations of this drug and its main active metabolite, dehydroaripiprazole, have been determined. In addition, the pharmacogenetic characterization of CYP2D6, CYP3A4 and ABCB1, main agents involved in the metabolism and transport of these molecules, has been carried out. The introduction into clinical practice of pharmacokinetic monitoring of aripiprazole, together with the analysis of genetic polymorphisms involved in its elimination, constitutes a fundamental pillar to implement the therapeutic individualization of this drug, as well as to optimize its benefit-risk balance.