M A I N   N E W S

North Indians at higher risk of bleeding: Study
Aditi Tandon/TNS

New Delhi, April 22
North Indians are at a much higher risk of bleeding caused by improper administration of anticoagulant drugs than South Indians and must be given the medicine in lesser dosages than standard.

A path breaking new comparative research on the genotypes of persons of North Indian and South Indian (Dravidian) origin has, for the first time, revealed that North Indians face higher risks ranging from minor and major bleeding to death if they are prescribed higher than the required doses of the anticoagulant drug Warfarin.

The research titled "Impact of genetic variation and patient characteristics on oral anticoagulant therapy" basically looks at the emerging potential of pharmacogenetics in determining the body response to drugs. Genetic analysis of patients has always proved useful in managing situations such as Down's syndrome and thalassaemia but now genetic analysis can also be used in predicting the response of patients to drugs like Warfarin which are known to cause complications in people.

At least 2 per cent of the population is known to die due to anticoagulant induced bleeding. "Simply put this means is you administer drug dose in a quantity that is more than the patient's body requires, he or she can face the risk of bleeding which can lead to brain haemmorhage, excessive menstrual bleeding, bleeding from the nose and in some cases even death. Our study says that genetic analysis of patients could help doctors in prescribing the right doses required by the said patient," says Risha Nahar, who led the research under the team of medical experts at the Centre of Genetic Studies in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Considering the fact that 5 to 10 per cent hospital admissions as of date are on account of anticoagulant drug induced bleeding in patients, the new study can help manage a lot of risks and save lives in extreme situations.

"The fact is that people with a higher frequency of certain genetic mutations need a lesser dose of Warfarin than the others. We have found North Indians to report higher frequency and they are at a two-and-a-half-times higher risk of anticoagulant drug induced bleeding than their South Indian counterparts who report lesser frequency of mutations. So North Indians must be given lesser doses than standard," Nahar says.

If doctors give more than the required doses of anticoagulants to people who do not essentially require these, the people could suffer excessive thinning of blood resulting in bleeding.

Anticoagulants are normally administered to patients of pulmonary embolism (sudden blockage of an artery), aortic valve replacement, and thrombosis (formation of clots inside the body). 

Warfarin: The North-South divide

A comparative research on the genotypes of persons of North Indian and South Indian origin has revealed that former face higher risks of bleeding to death if they are prescribed higher than the required doses of the anticoagulant drug Warfarin

Considering the fact that 5% to 10% hospital admissions as of date are on account of anticoagulant drug induced bleeding in patients, the new study can help manage a lot of risks and save lives in extreme situations.

At least 2% of the population is known to die due to anticoagulant induced bleeding