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. 1977 Jun;4(3):315–320. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1977.tb00719.x

Age as a determinant of sensitivity to warfarin.

A M Shepherd, D S Hewick, T A Moreland, I H Stevenson
PMCID: PMC1429084  PMID: 901699

Abstract

1 Parallel human and rat studies were carried out to confirm the previous suggestion of an increased sensitivity to warfarin in old age. 2 The anticoagulant response to warfarin was found to be greater in the elderly groups despite, in the case of the patient study, the elderly subjects being given a smaller weight-related dose. 3 At the same plasma warfarin concentrations there was greater inhibition of vitamin K-dependent clotting factor synthesis in the elderly. There was no difference in the rate of clotting factor degradation in the two age groups. 4 There was no appreciable difference in warfarin pharmacokinetics (plasma half-life, apparent volume of distribution, plasma clearance, plasma protein binding or plasma warfarin alcohol levels) in the two age groups. 5 There appeared to be no major age-related differences in warfarin pharmacokinetics and the increased effect of warfarin in the elderly seemed to result from an increased intrinsic sensitivity to warfarin.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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