![]() Patients at high risk of bleeding, the very elderly and those requiring long term prevention of DVT may have a lower INR target ( 1.5 to 2.0). bi-leaflet aortic heart valves 2.5 to 3.5 Pulmonary embolus, tissue heart valves 2.0 to 3.0 atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, The target range for INR depends on the condition being treated - as a guide : ![]() Thus a normal person will have an INR of 1. The activity of warfarin is measured by the INR - which is the ratio of the time taken for a patient's blood to clot compared with a normal person not taking warfarin. Factors which increase vitamin K intake (diet), increase protein binding (many medications) or improve liver function ( where clotting proteins are formed) will reduce the effect of warfarin.Ĭonversely, warfarin activity may be markedly increased by impaired liver function ( especially heart failure and alcohol ) or reduced protein binding (many medications). Unfortunately there are numerous factors which influence the levels of effective warfarin within an individual from day to day. Most of the warfarin ingested is bound to proteins within the blood - it is only unbound warfarin which is effective. ![]() from the stomach or into the brain) while inadequate levels will mean treatment is ineffective. Warfarin is a very effective medication but its action on the body has to be carefully regulated and monitored - too much warfarin may result in life threatening haemorrhage (e.g. ![]() It works by preventing the body converting vitamin K into blood clotting proteins. Warfarin ( 'Coumadin' or 'Marevan' ) is an oral anticoagulant taken to reduce the formation of blood clots.
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