Sex, age, and genetics in anesthesia.
OBJECTIVE
Pharmacology is one of the corner stones of anesthesia. Outcome of anesthesia is related, in part, to both pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of anesthetic drugs. Recent developments have indicated that among individuals, major differences exist in pharmacological effects. In this regard, sex, age, and genetic profile are increasingly considered to be of importance.


RESULTS
For a number of anesthetic drugs, it has been demonstrated that sex differences influence their effects and thus can alter the outcome of anesthesia. Also other genetically determined differences than sex are important.


CONCLUSIONS
In the future, it is expected that an individual's pharmacological needs will be based on age, sex, and genomics.
Booij
Leo H D J
LH
University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. l.booij@owi.umcn.nl
D000367:Age Factors; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010597:Pharmacogenetics / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors