Genetically guided warfarin dosing can lower AE risk

“The GIFT trial is an example of personalized medicine. If the patient stays in a safe INR range, warfarin is an incredibly effective and safe drug. By getting the dose approximately right from the get-go, we’re less likely to have the patient overdose and can lower the risk of complications.”

Dr Gage said future research could combine GIFT with prior pharmacogenetic trials in a meta-analysis and should determine what other genetic variations predict response to anticoagulants.

Additionally, as clinical and genetic factors affecting warfarin dose requirements vary by race, dosing algorithms tailored to ancestry may be beneficial.

Dr Gage also said he hopes genetic and clinical dosing algorithms will be integrated within electronic medical records.

“The hope is that when a physician starts a prescription of warfarin, electronic medical records will seamlessly give a prudent recommendation to help the doctor come up with the right dose,” he said.