If you constantly run into trouble in adjusting your patients’ doses of Coumadin (warfarin), you are not alone. The reason could be not your poor clinical skills, but rather the differential warfarin metabolism among patients. Your job can now be simplified, thanks to a newly approved test from Nanosphere, Inc, a Northbrook, IL company.
From an FDA statement:
One-third of patients receiving warfarin metabolize it quite differently than expected and experience a higher risk of bleeding. Research has shown that some of the unexpected response to warfarin depends on variants of two genes, CYP2C9 and VKORC1. The Nanosphere Verigene Warfarin Metabolism Nucleic Acid Test detects some variants of both genes.
“Today’s action offers physicians the first FDA cleared genetic test for warfarin sensitivity, which is another step in our commitment to personalized medicine,” said Daniel Schultz, M.D., director, FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health. “With this test, physicians may be able to use genetic information along with other clinical information to treat their patients.”
FDA press release: FDA Clears Genetic Lab Test for Warfarin Sensitivity …
More about the test from Nanosphere…
More about Verigene® System…
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