Pharmacogenetics of warfarin: A literature review

Abstract

Warfarin is an oral indirect anticoagulant that is widely used for the prevention of thromboembolic events. Pharmacogenetic testing is the most promising approach to personalizing warfarin treatment. In this review, we aimed to summarize how the patients’ genetic predispositions affect the pharmacokinetics of warfarin, which determines the different dosing regimens for patients. To correctly interpret data in clinical settings, algorithms for selecting the optimal dosing regimen need to be developed that consider the patient’s age, sex, weight, height, health status, and genetic characteristics. These algorithms could help determine the optimal dose, enhance patient adherence to treatment, and increase the physician’s confidence in the treatment safety. Furthermore, although algorithms that consider SNPs in the CYP2C9, VKORC1, and CYP4F2 genes are more effective in predicting warfarin doses, their effectiveness varies according to race.

Keywords

• warfarin
• pharmacogenetics
• cyp2c9
• vkorc1
• cyp4f2