Gene Can Help Set First Dose of Warfarin

A gene that affects how sensitive someone is to the drug warfarin can help determine the best starting dose, researchers say. Warfarin (Coumadin) is a blood thinner. It is used to prevent dangerous clots. But different people need very different doses. Researchers looked at two genes in 297 people who were starting to take warfarin. The VKORC1 gene affects sensitivity to the drug. CYP2C9 governs how fast the body removes the drug. Warfarin thinned the blood faster in people with a different version of VKORC1. CYP2C9 did not affect this early response. HealthDay News reported on the study March 5. It was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.