Haemostasis Management

Treatment of haemophilia patients (both A and B) and patients with other coagulation factor deficiencies is normally based on replacement therapy (substitution of the missing clotting factor).

The replacement clotting factors are typically obtained from human plasma or, more recently, from recombinant (genetically engineered) preparations. Human plasma-derived clotting factors have the inherent risk of potentially transmitting certain viruses. However, antibodies or ‘inhibitors’ can develop following treatment with either human plasma factor concentrates or recombinant clotting factor preparations. The development of antibodies or inhibitors is very problematic as any injected replacement therapy will be ‘neutralised’ or made ineffective by the inhibitor.

Novo Nordisk's commitment to the worldwide haemophilia community has made available an innovative and effective treatment for haemophilia patients with inhibitors. The potential use of rFVIIa in bleeding episodes unrelated to haemophilia is under investigation.

APROM ID# 1381. December 2009.