Drug Absorption in Gastrointestinal Disease and Surgery

It is well recognized that drug absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is influenced by gastric and intestinal motility, surface area available for absorption, and physicochemical properties of the drug. Disease and surgery have been shown to alter these factors. Consequently, drug absorption can be altered as well, and these affect drug therapy. Apparently this effect is variable, but the variability may be due in part to the complexities of performing studies in this area. For example, many patient factors as well as drug characteristics must be considered. In addition, appropriate interpretation of results requires that intravenous data be collected if changes in absorption are based on bioavailability. At this time, the alterations in drug absorption due to gastrointestinal disease and surgery are of unknown or little clinical significance; nevertheless, clinicians should be aware that the possibility of malabsorption exists and anticipate any monitoring of or alterations in therapy that may have to be made.