A Clotting-Factor Concentrate for Hemophilia Patients with Factor VIII Inhibitors

Prophylactic administration of factor VIII to prevent bleeding is standard for patients with classical hemophilia. However, about 10% of hemophilia patients develop inhibitory antibodies that render factor VIII ineffective. For these patients, bleeding is controlled with clotting-factor concentrates (bypassing agents) that induce hemostasis through pathways that circumvent the need for factor VIII.

Now, investigators have conducted an industry-supported, multinational, prospective, randomized, crossover trial to determine whether bypassing agents would be effective in decreasing bleeding events in 34 patients with severe hemophilia and factor VIII inhibitors. Half the patients received prophylaxis with FEIBA (Factor VIII Inhibitor Bypassing …