Patients on warfarin therapy need regular monitoring of which test?

Patients on warfarin therapy require regular monitoring of prothrombin time (PT) and the International Normalized Ratio (INR) to ensure that their blood clotting levels remain within a therapeutic range. Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that works by inhibiting vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, and maintaining the appropriate INR is crucial to preventing both bleeding complications and thromboembolic events.

The target INR for most patients on warfarin typically ranges from 2.0 to 3.0, depending on the indication for therapy. Regular monitoring allows healthcare providers to adjust the warfarin dose as necessary, based on individual responses and any changes in factors that could affect coagulation, such as diet, other medications, or underlying health conditions. This close monitoring is essential because warfarin has a narrow therapeutic window, meaning small changes in dose can lead to significant changes in coagulation status.

Other tests such as a complete blood count, thrombin time, and electrolyte levels do not provide the necessary information to manage or adjust warfarin therapy effectively. The complete blood count assesses overall health and detects a range of disorders, but it does not evaluate coagulation status. Thrombin time is a measure of the time it