A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that a genetic test can help doctors effectively establish the proper dosage of warfarin, commonly referred by the brand name Coumadin. Gauging the right amount of the anti-clotting drug to give patients has been one of the trickier calls in medicine.
Researchers looked at the genetic makeup of patients taking warfarin at clinics at the University of Washington in Seattle and Washington University in St. Louis and found that all fell into one of three dosing groups: low, medium and high. The finding suggests that researchers may be soon able to develop a genetic test which will allow them to accurately determine the best initial dose for patients and possibly eliminate follow-up blood tests.
- see this story from the Seattle Times