Pharmacogenomic Variability in Antihypertensive Drug Response: Towards Personalized Therapy

Abstract

Pharmacogenomics plays a pivotal role in optimizing the efficacy and safety of antihypertensive therapy. Individual genetic variability can significantly influence patient responses to commonly used antihypertensive agents such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics. This article investigates key pharmacogenomic markers associated with blood pressure regulation and drug metabolism, and their clinical relevance in personalizing therapy for hypertensive patients. The study involved genotyping selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in hypertensive patients and correlating them with drug response profiles. The results demonstrate substantial inter-individual variability, underscoring the potential of pharmacogenomic-guided therapy to reduce adverse drug reactions, improve blood pressure control, and enhance overall treatment outcomes. Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the availability of multiple classes of antihypertensive drugs, significant inter-individual variability exists in therapeutic response, often resulting in suboptimal blood pressure control and increased risk of adverse events. Pharmacogenomics, the study of genetic influences on drug response, has emerged as a promising field to optimize antihypertensive therapy by tailoring drug selection and dosing to the genetic profile of individual patients. This review examines the current understanding of pharmacogenomic factors affecting antihypertensive drug efficacy and safety, highlighting key gene polymorphisms involved in drug metabolism, transport, and target receptor pathways. The potential for integrating pharmacogenomic data into clinical practice to achieve personalized hypertension management is discussed, along with challenges and future directions.