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In toxicodynamics and pharmacodynamics, Loewe additivity (or dose additivity) is one of several common reference models used for measuring the effects of drug combinations.

Definition

Let ${\displaystyle d_{1}}$ and ${\displaystyle d_{2}}$ be doses of compounds 1 and 2 producing in combination an effect ${\displaystyle e}$. We denote by ${\displaystyle D_{e1}}$ and ${\displaystyle D_{e2}}$ the doses of compounds 1 and 2 required to produce effect ${\displaystyle e}$ alone (assuming this conditions uniquely define them, i.e. that the individual dose-response functions are bijective). ${\displaystyle D_{e1}/D_{e2}}$ quantifies the potency of compound 1 relatively to that of compound 2.

${\displaystyle d_{2}D_{e1}/D_{e2}}$ can be interpreted as the dose ${\displaystyle d_{2}}$ of compound 2 converted into the corresponding dose of compound 1 after accounting for difference in potency.

Loewe additivity is defined as the situation where ${\displaystyle d_{1}+d_{2}D_{e1}/D_{e2}=D_{e1}}$ or ${\displaystyle d_{1}/D_{e1}+d_{2}/D_{e2}=1}$.

Geometrically, Loewe additivity is the situation where isoboles are segments joining the points ${\displaystyle (D_{e1},0)}$ and ${\displaystyle (0,D_{e2})}$ in the domain ${\displaystyle (d_{1},d_{2})}$.

If we denote by ${\displaystyle f_{1}(d_{1})}$, ${\displaystyle f_{2}(d_{2})}$ and ${\displaystyle f_{12}(d_{1},d_{2})}$ the dose-response functions of compound 1, compound 2 and of the mixture respectively, then dose additivity holds when

${\displaystyle {\frac {d_{1}}{f_{1}^{-1}(f_{12}(d_{1},d_{2}))}}+{\frac {d_{2}}{f_{2}^{-1}(f_{12}(d_{1},d_{2}))}}=1}$

Testing

The Loewe additivity equation provides a prediction of the dose combination eliciting a given effect. Departure from Loewe additivity can be assessed informally by comparing this prediction to observations. This approach is known in toxicology as the model deviation ratio (MDR).

This approach can be rooted in a more formal statistical method with the derivation of approximate p-values with Monte Carlo simulation, as implemented in the R package MDR.

References

1. Greco, W.R.; Bravo, G.; Parsons, J. (1995). "The Search for Synergy: A Critical Review from a Response Surface Perspective". Pharmacol. Rev. 47 (2): 331–385. PMID 7568331.
2. Loewe, S. (1926). "Effect of combinations: mathematical basis of problem". Arch. Exp. Pathol. Pharmakol. 114: 313–326. doi:10.1007/BF01952257. S2CID 19783017.
3. Tang, J.; Wennerberg, J.K.; Aittokallio, T. (2015). "What Is Synergy? The Saariselkä Agreement Revisited". Frontiers in Pharmacology. 6: 181. doi:10.3389/fphar.2015.00181. PMC 4555011. PMID 26388771.
4. Belden, J. B.; Gilliom, R.; Lydy, M.J. (2007). "How well can we predict the toxicity of pesticide mixtures to aquatic life?". Integr. Environ. Assess. Manag. 3 (3): 364–72. doi:10.1002/ieam.5630030307. PMID 17695109. S2CID 16438339.
5. "Github development repository for the R package MDR". GitHub. 2020-01-20.

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