Abstract
Plasma-derived factor concentrates were revolutionary in modifying the lifestyle of hemophilia patients. The HIV and hepatitis epidemic led to an improved understanding of the risks of exposure to blood products and emphasized the need for better screening and viral eradication measures. Improved safety and efficacy of plasma-derived concentrates has ensured continued use of these products. Plasma-derived products remain the mainstay of treatment options for patients with hemophilia in the developing world due to their cost-effectiveness. Treatment efficacy of plasma-derived products is equivalent to those of recombinant products. Inhibitor development is a major complication of treatment with replacement products. Current studies are focused on the evaluation of differences between the incidence of inhibitors in patients treated with plasma-derived factors versus those treated with recombinant products. The presence of von Willebrand factor in the plasma-derived products is postulated to offer protection from inhibitor formation, but studies are yet to confirm this finding. Immune-tolerance induction therapy is used for the eradication of inhibitors and the advantages of using a plasma-derived product for successful immune tolerance induction is being evaluated.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Contemporary Approaches to Hemophilia |
| Publisher | Future Medicine Ltd. |
| Pages | 34-44 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781780844442 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781780844466 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2014 |