OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence and implication of cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily C, polypeptide 9 (CYP2C9) variants and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex, subunit 1 (VKORC1)-1639 G > A polymorphisms in Chinese patients receiving warfarin therapy.

METHODS

Chinese Han patients requiring oral warfarin therapy were consecutively enrolled. Correlations between CYP2C9*1, *2, *3, *4, *5 variants and VKORC1-1639 G > A polymorphisms, fourth-day international normalized ratios (INRs) and warfarin maintenance dose were investigated.

RESULTS

Out of 101 patients, there were no significant differences in fourth-day INR or warfarin daily maintenance doses between patients with CYP2C911 and CYP2C913 genotypes. Patients with the VKORC1-1639 AA genotype had a higher fourth-day INR (1.87 ± 0.14) than those with the VKORC1-1639 AG genotype (1.32 ± 0.15). Warfarin maintenance dose for patients with the VKORC1-1639 AA genotype (2.40 ± 0.70 mg/day) was significantly lower than for patients with the VKORC1-1639 AG genotype (4.83 ± 0.70 mg/day).

CONCLUSIONS

Unlike Caucasian populations, VKORC1-1639 G > A polymorphisms in the Chinese population may be the dominant genetic factors associated with warfarin response variability.