What is crucial to monitor when a patient is on warfarin?

Monitoring INR (International Normalized Ratio) levels is essential for patients on warfarin because this medication is an anticoagulant that affects blood clotting. The INR provides a standardized measure of how long it takes for the blood to clot, which is critical for determining the appropriate dosage of warfarin. If the INR is too low, the patient may be at risk of developing a blood clot, whereas if it is too high, there is a significant risk of bleeding complications.

Warfarin therapy requires careful and regular monitoring to ensure that the patient remains within the therapeutic range. Typically, the therapeutic INR range for most indications is between 2.0 and 3.0, but this can vary based on the specific condition being treated. Therefore, consistent monitoring of INR levels allows healthcare professionals to adjust the warfarin dose as necessary to maintain safety and effectiveness.

The other options, while important in other contexts, do not have the same direct relevance to the management of a patient receiving warfarin. Blood glucose levels are crucial for diabetic management, platelet count monitoring is more relevant in contexts involving thrombocytopenia or thrombosis risk, and blood pressure is important for assessing overall cardiovascular health but not specifically related to warfarin therapy.