Genetic Testing for Warfarin Dosage

If you have a family history of heart attack, stroke or blood clots, warfarin may be able to help you or other family members at risk.  Warfarin is an anticoagulant.  It helps reduce blood clots by blocking the factors that contribute to blood clotting.  The issue with warfarin medication such as Coumadin and Jantoven is that the exact dosage is essential to its effectiveness as well as the health of the person.  Taking too much of the medication could result in internal bleeding while not taking enough may not protect against blood clots.

Why Use Genetic Tests for Warfarin

One of the ways to determine the dosage of warfarin is with genetic testing.  Variation in genes tell doctors which blood thinning medication would be most effective for a patient, the dosage that would be the most effective, and if the patient may experience serious side effects.

Testing is quite expensive ranging from $50 to $500 for each test and many insurance companies are not footing the bill since genetic testing for warfarin dosage is still quite new.  Even though these insurance companies might save on money in the long term if a patient gets the right medication with the right dosage right off the bat.  However, with more research insurance companies might begin to believe in the validity of the tests so that patients can receive the blood thinning medication best for them.

If you are seeking medical attention for heart disease, stroke, or blood clotting, it’s worth speaking to your physician about this new genetic testing.  Many people go through years of medication changes until they find the ones that work for them the best but now you can find out much sooner and prevent any complications.

The Future Need for Warfarin

If you are not seeking medical attention for these issues, but worry about suffering from them in the future because of family genealogy history, you may want to ask your doctor about genetic testing to see if you have the genetic marker.  It won’t tell you if you will definitely suffer from heart disease, stroke or blood clots but it will give you a warning by telling you if you are susceptible to something.

(photo credit: newtype2011)

May 11th, 2009 by Marcelina Hardy | Posted in DNA Testing | (2)