To cite this article: Collins P, Faradji A, Morfini M, Enriquez MM, Schwartz L. Efficacy and safety of secondary prophylactic vs. on-demand sucroseformulated recombinant factor VIII treatment in adults with severe hemophilia A: results from a 13-month crossover study. J Thromb Haemost 2010; 8: 83-9.See also Aledort LM. To bleed or not to bleed -is that a question. This issue, pp 81-2.Summary. Background: Hemarthroses in severe hemophilia precipitate physical, psychosocial and financial difficulties. Objective: To compare the effects of secondary prophylaxis with on-demand sucrose-formulated recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII-FS) therapy in severe hemophilia A. Patients and methods: This open-label study included patients aged 30-45 years with factor VIII (FVIII) coagulant activity < 1 IU dL )1 who were using on-demand FVIII treatment.Patients were treated with rFVIII-FS on demand for 6 months, followed by 7 months prophylaxis (20-40 IU kg, three times per week, with the first month considered a run-in). The primary endpoint was the number of hemarthroses. Results: Twenty patients were enrolled (n = 19 completed); the mean age was 36.4 years, and 16 had target joints. The median (25-75%) number of joint bleeds decreased significantly with prophylaxis [0 (0-3)] vs. on-demand [15 (11-26); P < 0.001] therapy. The number of all bleeds was 0 (0-3) vs. 20.5 (14-37; P < 0.001), respectively. Median (range) total Gilbert scores improved after prophylaxis [18 (3-39)] compared with on-demand [25 (4-46)] therapy, predominantly reflecting the improved bleeding score. Median time from last prophylactic infusion to bleed was 2 days; 82.5% of bleeds occurred 2-3 days after the last infusion. Median 48-h and 72-h FVIII trough levels measured during months 10 and 13 were consistently > 6 and > 4 IU dL )1 , respectively. Treatment was well tolerated, and no inhibitor formation was observed. Conclusion: Secondary prophylaxis with rFVIII-FS significantly reduced the frequency of hemarthroses compared with on-demand therapy in adult patients with severe hemophilia A.

Studies with haemophilia A (HA) patients have shown burden in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) when compared with general population norms. In the current study, HA patients' SF-36v2 health survey scores were compared with general population norms and to patients with other chronic conditions. The impact of target joints (TJs) on HRQOL was also examined. The sample was a subset of HA patients enrolled in the Post-Authorization Safety Surveillance (PASS) programme: a prospective open-label study in which ADVATE [Antihaemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Plasma/Albumin-Free Method] was prescribed. A total of 205 patients who were ≥ 18 years old and had SF-36v2 baseline scores were selected for this study. To measure the burden of HA on HRQOL, manova analyses compared these SF-36v2 scores to age- and gender-matched general population US and EU norms and to patients from other chronic condition groups. manova and correlational analyses examined the relations among TJ, age and SF-36v2 scores. Comparisons with general population norms confirm that HA negatively impacts physical, but not mental, HRQOL. Comparison with other chronic conditions shows the physical burden of HA is greater than for chronic back pain but similar to diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, while the mental burden of HA is less than for all three patient groups. The presence of TJs was negatively associated with physical HRQOL, although this association was much larger for older patients (45+ years) than for younger ones. Physical, but not mental, HRQOL is diminished in HA patients. Target joints are associated with lower physical HRQOL, although this effect is moderated by age.

Factor XI (FXI)-deficient patients may develop excessive bleeding after trauma or surgery. Replacement therapy should be considered in high-risk situations, especially when FXI levels are below 20 IU dL−1. HEMOLEVEN is a human plasma-derived factor XI concentrate available in France since 1992, but there are few data regarding its use by physicians. This prospective study assessed the use, efficacy and safety of HEMOLEVEN in common clinical practice. HEMOLEVEN was evaluated in FXI-deficient patients in 13 French centres in a 3-year postmarketing study. Forty-four patients (30 females, 14 males) received 67 treatments. The median age was 37 years (8 months–91 years). Basal FXI levels were <1 to 51 IU dL−1 (median: 5.5); 29 patients were severely FXI-deficient (<20 IU dL−1). FXI was administered prophylactically before 43 surgical procedures, 10 invasive procedures, 8 vaginal deliveries, or as curative treatment for six bleeds. The efficacy was assessed as excellent/good in 63, moderate in two and undetermined in two treatments. Seven patients experienced seven adverse effects, including two rated as serious: one sudden massive pulmonary embolism with fatal outcome and one case of inhibitor to FXI. HEMOLEVEN is effective for bleeding prevention in FXI deficiency. However, considering the benefit/risk ratio observed in relation to dosage in this study; firstly, it should be used sparingly due to its potential prothrombotic effect; secondly, new prescription procedures should be defined to adapt the dosage, especially in patients with intrinsic and/or acquired risk factors for thrombosis.

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The contact of flowing blood with an artificial surface leads to adsorption of plasma proteins, followed by platelet adhesion and aggregation and thrombus formation. This phenomenon is enhanced by turbulent flow at joints, bifurcations, and constrictions. In therapeutic plasmapheresis using an IBM blood cell separator, blockage of the extracorporeal circulation system by platelet-fibrin thrombi imposed a halt in treatment for manual clearance of the circuit for 66 in 149 cases (44%). Thus it was decided to passivate the surface of the extracorporeal circuit by filling the tubing with 4% human serum albumin 15-20 min before the treatment session and then displacing the albumin solution with the patient's blood without creating an air-liquid interface. After introduction of this technique, a blockage was observed for only 11 in 239 cases (5%). In vitro measurements of platelet accumulation on the internal surface of the circulation system were carried out using washed human platelets labeled with 111In-oxine in the presence of a 40% hematocrit. Preadsorption of the surface with albumin reduced platelet deposition to 4-5% that observed for an equivalent pretreatment with physiological saline.