Intracranial haemorrhage in children and adolescents with severe haemophilia A or B - the impact of prophylactic treatment.

The discussion of prophylactic therapy in haemophilia is largely focused on joint outcomes. The impact of prophylactic therapy on intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) is less known. This study aimed to analyse ICH in children with haemophilia, with a focus on different prophylaxis regimens and sequelae of ICH. We conducted a multicentre retrospective and prospective study that included 33 haemophilia centres from 20 countries. Inclusion criteria were children and adolescents born between 1993 and 2014, with severe haemophilia A or B without inhibitors. Participants were categorized by prophylaxis regimen: full, partial or none, based on dose and dose frequency of regular infusions. The cohort study included 1515 children: 29 cases of ICH over 8038 patient years were reported. The incidence of ICH in the prophylaxis group, 0·00033 cases of ICH/patient year, was significantly lower compared to the no prophylaxis group, 0·017 cases of ICH/patient year (RR 50·06; P < 0·001) and the partial prophylaxis group, 0·0050 cases of ICH/patient year (RR 14·92; P = 0·007). In the on-demand-group, 8% (2/24) children with ICH died and 33% had long-term sequelae, including intellectual and behavioural problems, paresis and epilepsy. Children on regular, frequent prophylaxis have a low risk of ICH compared to those using non-frequent or no prophylaxis.

A Randomized Trial of Factor VIII and Neutralizing Antibodies in Hemophilia A.

BACKGROUND: The development of neutralizing anti-factor VIII alloantibodies (inhibitors) in patients with severe hemophilia A may depend on the concentrate used for replacement therapy. METHODS: We conducted a randomized trial to assess the incidence of factor VIII inhibitors among patients treated with plasma-derived factor VIII containing von Willebrand factor or recombinant factor VIII. Patients who met the eligibility criteria (male sex, age <6 years, severe hemophilia A, and no previous treatment with any factor VIII concentrate or only minimal treatment with blood components) were included from 42 sites. RESULTS: Of 303 patients screened, 264 underwent randomization and 251 were analyzed. Inhibitors developed in 76 patients, 50 of whom had high-titer inhibitors (≥5 Bethesda units). Inhibitors developed in 29 of the 125 patients treated with plasma-derived factor VIII (20 patients had high-titer inhibitors) and in 47 of the 126 patients treated with recombinant factor VIII (30 patients had high-titer inhibitors). The cumulative incidence of all inhibitors was 26.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 18.4 to 35.2) with plasma-derived factor VIII and 44.5% (95% CI, 34.7 to 54.3) with recombinant factor VIII; the cumulative incidence of high-titer inhibitors was 18.6% (95% CI, 11.2 to 26.0) and 28.4% (95% CI, 19.6 to 37.2), respectively. In Cox regression models for the primary end point of all inhibitors, recombinant factor VIII was associated with an 87% higher incidence than plasma-derived factor VIII (hazard ratio, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.17 to 2.96). This association did not change in multivariable analysis. For high-titer inhibitors, the hazard ratio was 1.69 (95% CI, 0.96 to 2.98). When the analysis was restricted to recombinant factor VIII products other than second-generation full-length recombinant factor VIII, effect estimates remained similar for all inhibitors (hazard ratio, 1.98; 95% CI, 0.99 to 3.97) and high-titer inhibitors (hazard ratio, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.11 to 6.00). CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with plasma-derived factor VIII containing von Willebrand factor had a lower incidence of inhibitors than those treated with recombinant factor VIII. (Funded by the Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Foundation and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01064284; EudraCT number, 2009-011186-88.).

Spanish Consensus Guidelines on prophylaxis with bypassing agents in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors.

Prophylaxis with the blood clotting factor, factor VIII (FVIII) is ineffective for individuals with haemophilia A and high-titre inhibitors to FVIII. Prophylaxis with the FVIII bypassing agents activated prothrombin complex concentrates (aPCC; FEIBA® Baxalta) or recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa; Novo-Seven®, Novo Nordisk) may be an effective alternative. It was our aim to develop evidence -and expert opinion- based guidelines for prophylactic therapy for patients with high-titre inhibitors to FVIII. A panel of nine Spanish haematologists undertook a systematic review of the literature to develop consensus-based guidance. Particular consideration was given to prophylaxis in patients prior to undergoing immune tolerance induction (ITI) (a process of continued exposure to FVIII that can restore sensitivity for some patients), during the ITI period and for those not undergoing ITI or for whom ITI had failed. These guidelines offer guidance for clinicians in deciding which patients might benefit from prophylaxis with FVIII bypassing agents, the most appropriate agents in various clinical settings related to ITI, doses and dosing regimens and how best to monitor the efficacy of prophylaxis. The paper includes recommendations on when to interrupt or stop prophylaxis and special safety concerns during prophylaxis. These consensus guidelines offer the most comprehensive evaluation of the clinical evidence base to date and should be of considerable benefit to clinicians facing the challenge of managing patients with severe haemophilia A with high-titre FVIII inhibitors.

Spanish consensus guidelines on prophylaxis with bypassing agents for surgery in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with severe haemophilia and inhibitors against factor VIII who require surgery need a prophylactic approach to prevent bleeding complications. Scientific evidence to decide the best prophylactic treatment is very limited and mainly based on retrospective or case series. AIMS: To develop evidence- and expert opinion-based guidelines for prophylactic therapy for patients with haemophilia and inhibitors undergoing surgery. METHODS: A panel of nine Spanish haematologists undertook a systematic review of the literature and selected publications providing relevant information regarding the prophylactic management of patients with haemophilia and inhibitors undergoing dental extraction, minor surgery or major surgery. RESULTS: Although evidence is very limited, the panel considers that it seems advisable that prophylaxis should be given in most cases with a bypassing agent (aPCC or rFVIIa) and should start immediately before minor or major surgery. Patients should be closely monitored to enable dose/product modification as needed. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to communicate clinical experience in a detailed way in order to ensure optimal schemes of prophylaxis for patients with haemophilia and inhibitors. Development of objective outcomes to evaluate efficacy is crucial.

Experience of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for Hemophilia at the University Hospital Virgen Del Rocío in Spain: Technical and Clinical Overview.

Hemophilia A and B are the most common hereditary hemorrhagic disorders, with an X-linked mode of inheritance. Reproductive options for the families affected with hemophilia, aiming at the prevention of the birth of children with severe coagulation disorders, include preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Here we present the results of our PGD Program applied to hemophilia, at the Department of Genetics, Reproduction and Fetal Medicine of the University Hospital Virgen del Rocío in Seville. A total of 34 couples have been included in our program since 2005 (30 for hemophilia A and 4 for hemophilia B). Overall, 60 cycles were performed, providing a total of 508 embryos. The overall percentage of transfers per cycle was 81.7% and the live birth rate per cycle ranged from 10.3 to 24.1% depending on the methodological approach applied. Although PGD for hemophilia can be focused on gender selection of female embryos, our results demonstrate that methodological approaches that allow the diagnosis of the hemophilia status of every embryo have notorious advantages. Our PGD Program resulted in the birth of 12 healthy babies for 10 out of the 34 couples (29.4%), constituting a relevant achievement for the Spanish Public Health System within the field of haematological disorders.

Replacement therapy for bleeding episodes in factor VII deficiency. A prospective evaluation.

Patients with inherited factor VII (FVII) deficiency display different clinical phenotypes requiring ad hoc management. This study evaluated treatments for spontaneous and traumatic bleeding using data from the Seven Treatment Evaluation Registry (STER). One-hundred one bleeds were analysed in 75 patients (41 females; FVII coagulant activity <1-20%). Bleeds were grouped as haemarthroses (n=30), muscle/subcutaneous haematomas (n=16), epistaxis (n=12), gum bleeding (n=13), menorrhagia (n=16), central nervous system (CNS; n=9), gastrointestinal (GI; n=2) and other (n=3). Of 93 evaluable episodes, 76 were treated with recombinant, activated FVII (rFVIIa), eight with fresh frozen plasma (FFP), seven with plasma-derived FVII (pdFVII) and two with prothrombin-complex concentrates. One-day replacement therapy resulted in very favourable outcomes in haemarthroses, and was successful in muscle/subcutaneous haematomas, epistaxis and gum bleeding. For menorrhagia, single- or multiple-dose schedules led to favourable outcomes. No thrombosis occurred; two inhibitors were detected in two repeatedly treated patients (one post-rFVIIa, one post-pdFVII). In FVII deficiency, most bleeds were successfully treated with single 'intermediate' doses (median 60 µg/kg) of rFVIIa. For the most severe bleeds (CNS, GI) short- or long-term prophylaxis may be optimal.

The spectrum of mutations in Southern Spanish patients with hemophilia A and identification of 28 novel mutations.

The aim of this study was to analyze the mutation pattern causing hemophilia A in a population from Southern Spain. Mutation analysis identified the mutation in 99 of the 109 unrelated patients enrolled in the Hemophilia Registry from Andalusia. About 54% of non-inversion mutations identified were previously unreported.