Warfarin

Aka: Warfarin, Coumadin, Anticoagulation after Heart Valve Replacement, Valve Replacement and Anticoagulation, Vitamin K Antagonist, Warfarin Target INR

1. See Also
   1. Warfarin Drug Interactions
   2. Warfarin Protocol
   3. Warfarin Protocol for the Perioperative Period
   4. Heparin
   5. Anticoagulation
   6. Direct Oral Anticoagulant
2. Definitions
   1. Vitamin K Antagonist
      1. Agents that inhibit the intrahepatic intercoversion of Vitamin K to its reduced form
         1. Competitively block Vitamin K epoxide reductase (recycles Vitamin K)
      2. In the absence of Vitamin K, Clotting Factors/Proteins are not activated and Clotting Cascade does not occur
      3. Warfarin is the most commonly used Vitamin K Antagonist
      4. Other Vitamin K Antagonists include Dicoumarol, phenprocoumon and acenocoumarol
         1. Dicoumarol and coumarin are naturally occurring compounds found in plants
3. Mechanism
   1. Inhibits Vitamin K participation in factor synthesis (Vitamin K Antagonist)
      1. Clotting Factors (both pro-coagulant and Anticoagulant) are Vitamin K Dependent
      2. Vitamin K is required for carboxylation of terminal ends of coagulation Proteins
      3. Without carboxylation, Clotting Factors/Proteins are not activated and Clotting Cascade does not occur
      4. Warfarin inhibits the intrahepatic cyclic interconversion of Vitamin K to a reduced form
         1. Keeps Vitamin K and dependent factors inactive
   2. Vitamin K dependent coagulation Proteins
      1. Procoagulant Activity (Mnemonic: "1972")
         1. Factor 10 (36 hour half life)
         2. Factor 9 (24 hour half life)
         3. Factor 7 (8 hour half life)
         4. Factor 2 (50-72 hour half life)
      2. Anticoagulant Activity
         1. Protein C (8-14 hour half life)
         2. Protein S (30-42 hour half life)
   3. Coumadin has an initial paradoxical procoagulant effect
      1. Anticoagulant factors are depleted first
      2. Initially both Hypercoagulable and at increased risk for Warfarin skin necrosis
      3. Concurrently administer Heparin for first 4-5 days
4. Indications: Standard INR between 2.0 and 3.0
   1. Precautions
      1. INR 2.2 to 2.3 associated with lowest overall mortality
         1. Oden (2002) BMJ 325:1073-5 [PubMed]
   2. Major orthopedic surgery
      1. Hip replacement or ORIF Fracture (for 28-35 days)
      2. Elective total knee arthroplasty (for 10-14 days)
   3. Atrial Fibrillation
      1. High CVA risk (CHADS Score 2 or higher)
      2. Persistent, paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, flutter
      3. Cardioversion (Warfarin for 3 weeks before, 4 weeks after)
      4. Mitral Stenosis
      5. Coronary Stent and high CVA risk (CHADS Score 2 or higher)
         1. Warfarin is continued indefinately AND
         2. Antiplatelet agents
            1. First - Immediately after stenting: Triple Therapy
               1. Clopidogrel AND Aspirin (and Warfarin)
               2. Continue triple therapy for 1 month following bare metal stent
               3. Continue triple therapy for 3-6 months following drug eluting stent
            2. Next - Following initial period of triple therapy: Dual Therapy
               1. Clopidogrel OR Aspirin (and Warfarin) until 12 months following stenting
            3. Next - Following first year of antiplatelet drugs
               1. Continue Warfarin alone
   4. Venous Thromboembolism (Deep Vein Thrombosis or Pulmonary Embolism)
      1. First episode with reversible risks: 3 months
      2. First episode and idiopathic: 6-12 months
      3. Cancer: LMWH x3-6 months, then Warfarin longterm
      4. Antiphospholipid Antibody (Lupus Anticoagulant): 12 months or longterm
      5. Two Thrombophilias: 12 months or longterm
      6. Clotting disorder related: 6-12 months or longterm
      7. Two or more episodes: Longterm
   5. Coronary Artery Disease
      1. High risk patients for Myocardial Infarction without stent
         1. Continue Warfarin for 3 months following Myocardial Infarction
         2. Continue with low dose Aspirin (e.g. 81 mg)
      2. High risk patients for Myocardial Infarction with bare metal stent
         1. First: Triple therapy (Warfarin AND Clopidogrel AND low dose Aspirin) for 1 month
         2. Next: Dual therapy (Warfarin AND Clopidogrel or low dose Aspirin) for 2 months
      3. High risk patients for Myocardial Infarction with drug eluting stent
         1. First: Triple therapy (Warfarin AND Clopidogrel AND low dose Aspirin) for 3-6 months
   6. Heart Valve Replacement
      1. Mechanical Aortic Valve Replacement with bileaflet or tilting disk valves
         1. Low dose Aspirin (e.g. 81 mg) is recommended with Warfarin if low bleeding risk
      2. Bioprosthetic Heart Valve in mitral position
         1. Warfarin for 3 months after insertion
5. Indications: Target INR between 2.5 and 3.5
   1. Mechanical Heart Valves
      1. Ball and cage valve
      2. Comorbid Atrial Fibrillation, CHF, MI, LAE
      3. Mitral Valve Replacement
6. Dosing Protocol
   1. See Coumadin Protocol
7. References
   1. (2012) Chest 141(suppl 2) [PubMed]
   2. Wigle (2013) Am Fam Physician 87(8): 556-66 [PubMed]