[Individual sensitivity to antihypertensive drugs: genetic aspects].

Effective blood pressure lowering is essential for prevention of complications of arterial hypertension. Most current guidelines indicate diuretics, beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers as main antihypertensive drugs. Genetic polymorphisms underlie pathophysiology of diseases and can affect efficacy of therapy. Method of investigation of pharmacogenetic interrelationships is based on analysis of genes encoding enzymes responsible for metabolism and transport of drugs as well as genes encoding main targets of drug action (receptors). Those polymorphic genes that encode elements of the system of metabolism, adsorption, transport, elimination of drugs, and main receptor systems are considered to be main gene-candidates for pharmacogenetic studies. Some drugs have well known genotypes determining efficacy of therapy as for instance alpha-adducin gene for diuretics. Data on other classes of drugs (e.g. calcium channel blockers) are scanty. Existing information on pharmacogenetic properties of antihypertensive drugs is presented in this review.