Hair analysis for monitoring adherence to inhaled respiratory medications: possibilities and limitations

作者：Liz Cuperus, Wouter Ahmed, J.C.C.M. in ’t Veen, Huib A.M. Kerstjens, Tanja R. Zijp, Jasper Stevens, A. Mireille A. Wessels, Daan J. Touw, Job F. M. van Boven · 发表于：European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1007/s00228-025-03903-w · 被引用次数：2 · 研究领域：Inhalation and Respiratory Drug Delivery、Drug-Induced Adverse Reactions、Advancements in Transdermal Drug Delivery

PURPOSE: Non-adherence to inhaled medication poses a significant clinical and economic burden on patients with respiratory diseases. This narrative review provides an overview of key aspects of hair analysis, in general and specific for inhaled medications, and explores the potential of hair analysis as a novel tool to monitor adherence to inhaled medications. METHODS: PubMed searches were conducted to explore four aspects: (1) mechanisms of (inhaled) drug's systemic absorption and deposition in hair; (2) quantification of drugs in hair; (3) factors impacting (inhaled) drug hair concentrations; and (4) clinical studies assessing inhaled medication adherence through hair analysis. RESULTS: Systemic absorption, deposition, quantification, and interpretation of drug concentrations in hair are complex phenomena and are influenced by various factors. Analysing drug concentrations in hair segments provides insights into adherence variability over up to 3 months. While studies suggest effective incorporation of several inhaled drugs into hair, inter-individual variability is influenced by external (e.g. UV-exposure), drug- (e.g. lipophilicity) and patient-specific (e.g. hair colour) factors, not just by adherence. The impact of these confounding factors on absolute hair concentrations is still unclear. Intra-individual variability unrelated to adherence appears, however, minimal. CONCLUSION: Although hair analysis shows promise as a novel objective bioanalytical method for assessing...