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Phenprocoumon Pathway, Pharmacokinetics

PA166246961 Last updated September 2022 Caroline F. Thorn & Rachel Huddart
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Reactions
Phenprocoumon Pathway, Pharmacokinetics pathway diagram
Phenprocoumon Pathway, Pharmacokinetics — pathway diagram from PharmGKB / ClinPGx
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About this pathway

Background

Phenprocoumon is an anticoagulant commonly used in many European countries and is administered as a racemic mixture. Like other coumarins, phenprocoumon exerts its clinical effect by inhibiting vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC1).

Metabolism

The main route of metabolism of phenprocoumon is hydroxylation with approximately 60% forming 7-hydroxyphenprocoumon, 25% 6-hydroxyphenprocoumon and the remainder 4’-hydroxyphenprocoumon [Article:16372822]. This pathway does not show the R and S enantiomers for each metabolite as the individual stereoisomer structures were not available in PubChem. In general clearance is higher for the S enantiomers than the R enantiomers and is driven more by CYP2C9 [Articles:16372822, 15128047].

Metabolite Enzymes (relative percentage involvement)
S-4′-OH CYP2C9 (30) CYP3A4 (30) CYP2C8 (30)
S-6-OH CYP2C9 (60) CYP3A4 (40)
S-7-OH CYP2C9 (65) CYP3A4 (35)
R-4′-OH CYP3A4 (100)
R-6-OH CYP2C9 (50) CYP3A4 (50)
R-7-OH CYP2C9 (50) CYP3A4 (50)

Table adapted from Ufer [Article:16372822]

An 8’-hydroxy metabolite of phenprocoumon has been identified in vitro [Article:10562412] but was not detected in an in vivo study of phenprocoumon metabolism in humans [Article:4078699].

Pharmacogenomics

Phenprocoumon metabolism appears to be decreased in the presence of the CYP2C9*2 or *3 alleles [Articles:21110013, 15128047, 15742978]. However, the evidence base regarding an association between phenprocoumon dose requirements and variation in CYP2C9 is extremely mixed [Articles:15536456, 24224579, 20376629, 21110013, 20833980]. As a result, the Dutch Pharmacogenomics Working Group (DPWG) has issued a ‘no recommendation’ for phenprocoumon and CYP2C9 and state that variation in CYP2C9 is not considered to cause problems with standard initiation of phenprocoumon therapy (i.e. frequent INR monitoring).

Reactions & interactions (10)

  • Biochemical Reaction
    phenprocoumon 7-hydroxyphenprocoumon
  • Biochemical Reaction
    phenprocoumon 4'-hydroxyphenprocoumon
  • Biochemical Reaction
    phenprocoumon 6-hydroxyphenprocoumon
  • Catalysis
    CYP2C9 Biochemical Reaction
  • Catalysis
    CYP3A4 Biochemical Reaction
  • Catalysis
    CYP2C8 Biochemical Reaction
  • Catalysis
    CYP3A4 Biochemical Reaction
  • Catalysis
    CYP2C9 Biochemical Reaction
  • Catalysis
    CYP3A4 Biochemical Reaction
  • Catalysis
    CYP2C9 Biochemical Reaction

Edit history (2)

  • 2021-07-29 Create
  • 2022-09-29 Update fixed typo
Phenprocoumon Pathway, Pharmacokinetics pathway diagram (enlarged)