Sunday, December 30, 2018

Warfarin: a procoagulant or anticoagulant?

Hello Awesomites!

No doubt ! Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant.
Confused? Don't be. :D

Warfarin inhibits reduction of Vitamin K to its active form and leads to depletion of the vitamin K-dependent clotting factors II,VII,IX and X, and protein C,S and Z.

Because of the rapid depletion of the anti-coagulant Protein C and a slower depletion of factor II, patients might develop increased hypercoagulability during the first few days of warfarin therapy. So warfarin is combined with a parenteral initially. Treatment of DVT/PE with warfarin requires overlap therapy/bridging therapy with a parenteral anticoagulant (UFH,LMWH, or pentasaccharide) for atleast 4-5 days and until the INR reaches atleast 2.0.

The starting dose of warfarin depends on many factors. During warfarin therapy INR monitoring should occur frequently during the first month of warfarin therapy (e.g.twice weekly for 1-2 weeks, then weekly for 2 weeks, then less frequently).

Have a great day ahead.
Upasana Y. :)

2 comments:

  1. What's the function of factor Z?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vignesh! Protein Z is vitamin K dependent serine proteases. It is helpful in degradation of factor Xa.Hope that clears your doubt.

    ReplyDelete

This is express yourself space. Where you type create something beautiful! <3
Wondering what do I write? Well...
Tell us something you know better. You are a brilliant mind. Yes, you are! ^__^
Ask about something you don't understand @_@?
Compliment... Say something nice! =D
Be a good critic and correct us if something went wrong :|
Go ahead. Comment all you like here! (:

PS: We have moderated comments to reduce spam. ALL comments that are not spam will be published on the website.