SNP Shot: Genomic Insights

Warfarin sensitivity describes a situation where someone is highly sensitive to the effects of the drug warfarin. Warfarin is an anticoagulant, a type of medication that thins the blood and prevents blood clots. It's commonly prescribed to individuals with heart valve disease and artificial heart valves, those with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat), or people who have experienced a heart attack, stroke, or deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in the deep veins of the arms or legs).

Individuals with warfarin sensitivity often metabolize warfarin more slowly than others. This means the drug stays active in their system for a longer period, necessitating lower dosages. They are considered "slow metabolizers" of warfarin. Some individuals are sensitive to warfarin because their natural clotting process is already slower, so only a small amount of warfarin is needed to prevent clots. Taking a standard or higher dose of warfarin when sensitive can lead to an overdose, potentially causing dangerous bleeding in the brain, digestive system, or other body tissues, which can have serious or fatal consequences.

Warfarin sensitivity itself doesn't seem to cause health issues, except for problems related to warfarin treatment, such as excessive bleeding.

Inheritance:

The genetic variations linked to warfarin sensitivity follow an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. This means that having just one copy of the altered gene in each cell is enough to cause the sensitivity. However, the degree of warfarin sensitivity can vary depending on the specific genetic variation. Furthermore, individuals with multiple genetic variations in a single gene or variations in multiple genes related to warfarin sensitivity may exhibit even greater sensitivity and/or clear the drug from their bodies at a slower rate.