Hemophilia Treatment Risks: Antibodies
Antibodies destroy the clotting factor before it has a chance to work. This is a very serious
hemophilia treatment risk because it reduces the effectiveness of the main treatment for
hemophilia -- replacing clotting factors.
Antibodies to clotting factors develop in about 1 out of 5 people with severe
hemophilia A and 1 out of 100 people with
hemophilia B.
When antibodies develop, doctors may use larger doses of clotting factors or try different sources of the clotting factor. In some cases, antibodies may go away on their own. Researchers continue to study ways to deal with antibodies to clotting factors.
Hemophilia Treatment Risks: Viruses From Human Blood Factors
The viruses that cause
AIDS (
HIV) and hepatitis can be carried in clotting factors. However, there has not been a documented case of transmission of these viruses for about a decade, due to:
- Careful screening of donors
- Testing of donated blood products
- Treating donated blood products used to create clotting factors with a detergent and heat to destroy viruses.
Hemophilia research scientists continue to find ways to make blood products safer.
Risks Associated With Delays in Receiving Hemophilia Treatment
When hemophilia treatment for bleeding is delayed, damage to the area affected (such as a joint) can occur. It is important for people with the disease to learn to recognize symptoms of hemophilia as soon as possible after bleeding starts and to get treatment quickly.
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