ObjectivesTo compare different formula calculated dosages with the actual doses of warfarin from patients in Beijing Hospital so as to investigate suitable warfarin dosing models for Chinese patients.MethodsOne hundred and three Chinese patients with long-term prescription of warfarin were randomly selected from Beijing Hospital from July 2012 to May 2013. The CYP2C9 and VKROC1 genotypes and basic statistical information were collected. SPSS 18.0 software was used to compare the differences between different formula calculated dosages and the actual dosages of warfarin.ResultsFive genotypes were found in 103 patients, including: CYP2C9 AA genotype + VKORC1 AA genotype (n=72, 69.9%), CYP2C9 AA genotype + VKORC1 AG genotype (n=17, 16.5%), CYP2C9 AC genotype + VKORC1 AA genotype (n=10, 9.7%), CYP2C9 AC genotype + VKORC1 AG genotype (n=3, 2.9%) and CYP2C9 AA genotype + VKORC1 GG genotype (n=1, 1%). Compared with the actual dosages of warfarin, the degree of coincidence was highest for dosages calculated by Jeffrey’s formula.Conclusions Using Jeffrey’s formula to calculate warfarin dosages may be more suitable for Chinese patients with using long-term warfarin. Due to limited sample size, prospective and large sample size studies are required to verify the above conclusion.
Warfarin is one of the most frequently prescribed oral anticoagulant. Many researches have shown that the cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1 (VKORC1) genotypes have been strongly associated with warfarin maintenance doses. Warfarin maintenance doses can be accurately predicted by use of dosing algorithms including genetic and clinical information. Although several clinical trials demonstrated mixed results, calling into question the utility of this approach. The present data do not support genetic testing to guide warfarin maintenance doses, but in the setting where genotype data are available, use of this approach is reasonable. Ongoing trials are expected to provide more data, and more work is needed to define dosing algorithms that include appropriate variables in minority populations. All these work will further improve the clinical application of genotype-guided warfarin maintenance doses.
