An analysis of the relative effects of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 variants on anticoagulation related outcomes in warfarin-treated patients

Thromb Haemost. 2008 Aug;100(2):229-39.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the relative influence of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 genetic variants on several clinical outcomes related to warfarin treatment. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 172 anticoagulation clinic patients followed from warfarin initiation. We assessed the following clinical outcomes: time to stable dose; time in, above, and below therapeutic range; the probability of overanticoagulation (international normalized ratio [INR] >5); frequency of anticoagulation clinic visits; and the contribution of genetics to maintenance dose. Patients with CYP2C9 variants, compared to those without, achieved stable dose 48% later (p < 0.01), spent a higher proportion of time above range in the first month of therapy (14% vs. 25%, p = 0.07), and had a higher odds ratio (OR) of an INR >5 (OR: 4.15, p = 0.03). In contrast, the only statistically significant effect with VKORC1 was a higher odds of an INR >5 (OR: 4.47, p = 0.03) for patients homozygous for the VKORC1 low-dose haplotype (AA) compared to heterozygotes. We did not detect an influence of CYP2C9 nor VKORC1 on the frequency of clinic visits. CYP2C9 alone, VKORC1 alone, and a combination of genetic and clinical factors explained 12%, 27%, and 50%, respectively, of the variation in warfarin maintenance dose. In conclusion, genetic variation in VKORC1 appears to have a different influence than CYP2C9 on anticoagulation-related outcomes such as bleeding events and time in therapeutic range. This difference may be due, in part, to pharmacokinetics factors (e.g. drug half-life), which are influenced primarily by CYP2C9; these findings should be confirmed in additional studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Algorithms
  • Anticoagulants / administration & dosage
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects*
  • Anticoagulants / pharmacokinetics
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / genetics*
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / metabolism
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced*
  • Hemorrhage / genetics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / genetics*
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / metabolism
  • Pharmacogenetics
  • Regression Analysis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Thromboembolism / epidemiology
  • Thromboembolism / prevention & control*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases
  • Warfarin / administration & dosage
  • Warfarin / adverse effects*
  • Warfarin / pharmacokinetics

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Warfarin
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • CYP2C9 protein, human
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C9
  • Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases
  • VKORC1 protein, human
  • Vitamin K Epoxide Reductases