A computer program (DCN) for numerical convolution and deconvolution of pharmacokinetic functions.

A program adapted for use on microcomputers (DCN) has been developed which permits one to perform operations of numerical convolution and deconvolution using polyexponential functions, that are often implemented in pharmacokinetic analysis. The program is written in Microsoft GWBASIC and can be used in personal computers with no modification. The user supplies information relating to the coefficients and exponentials defining the polyexponential equation of the response and weighting functions and the program performs the deconvolution operation by numerical integration using trapezoidal rule and provides numerical and graphic information concerning the input function. The program can be applied to the deconvolution of many linear pharmacokinetic systems and allows one to solve problems related to drug release, absorption, distribution, as well as others. Additionally, the program is able to perform the convolution operation if information about the input and weighting functions and is also able to simulate pharmacokinetic processes. The efficacy of the program was evaluated by comparison with several deconvolution algorithms, in particular that proposed by Veng-Pedersen and Iga.