The Pharmacogenetics of Coumarin Therapy

Abstract

Vitamin K antagonists (coumarins) are widely-used oral anticoagulants for the prevention of venous thromboembolism and strokes. Wide inter-individual variation in dose response and frequent bleeds characterize the initiation of coumarin therapy. Over the past 10 years both genetic and nongenetic determinants of coumarin dose response have been identified. A comprehensive pharmacogenetics approach to warfarin therapy has the potential to improve the safety and efficiency of warfarin initiation.

Keywords::

• acenocoumarol
• CYP enzyme system
• genetic
• pharmacogenetics
• phenprocoumon
• polymorphism
• warfarin