Age-dependent differences in the anticoagulant effect of phenprocoumon in patients after heart valve surgery

An enhanced response to warfarin and an increased risk of major bleeding has been observed in older patients. The reason for this increase in sensitivity remains unknown. It could be due to pharmacodynamic reasons, pharmacokinetic reasons, or both.

We therefore followed an anticoagulant regimen with phenprocoumon in 19 older (76 years) and 19 younger patients (50 years) following heart valve replacement. INR values were determined frequently. At the 4th and around the 24th day after starting treatment with phenprocoumon, we also measured the total and unbound plasma concentration of phenprocoumon.

The dose requirement to obtain the desired anticoagulant effect was significantly lower in the older patients than in the younger patients (26.3 vs. 37.3 micrograms.kg-1.day-1). The total plasma concentration (2.19 vs. 2.43 micrograms.ml-1), the percentage unbound drug in the plasma (0.61 vs. 0.64%) and the unbound plasma concentration (13.8 vs. 15.1 ng.ml-1) did not differ significantly between older and younger patients. The dose-adjusted INR (INR/dose) was higher in the older patients (110 vs. 67) but the INR adjusted for the unbound plasma concentration (INR/Cuss) which reflects the intrinsic sensitivity to the drug, was not significantly different (192 vs. 173). However, the older patients had an about 30% significantly lower metabolic clearance based on unbound drug (84 vs. 115 ml.kg-1.h-1).

Older patients (> 70 years) require a dose approximately 30% lower than younger patients (< 160 years). Pharmacokinetic reasons (reduced metabolic clearance) are mainly responsible for the lower dose requirement of the older patients after heart valve surgery.