How are patients currently managed on warfarin therapy?
Coumadin (warfarin) is the most commonly prescribed anticoagulant for the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic events. The dose of warfarin required to maintain a safe degree of anticoagulation ranges from 2 mg/day or lower for some individuals to 10 mg per day or higher for others. Patients who are not taking the dose that is right for them are at an increased risk for severe toxicity or an inadequate response. Currently, clinicians anticipate maintenance dose requirements based on the patients physical characteristics such as age, gender and weight and monitor the therapeutic effects closely by measuring the INR. However these physical characteristics do not account for the major sources of variation in dose requirement. Therefore the clinician must adjust the warfarin dosage when the INR is not within the safe range for anticoagulation. This can be a lengthy trial and error process where the patient is at increased risk until the most appropriate dosage for that patient is det
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- How are patients currently managed on warfarin therapy?
