Is there a difference between Factor VIII and Factor IX inhibitors?
Inhibitors to factor IX can sometimes be associated with additional serious complications which have not been observed for inhibitors to Factor VIII. The reaction between factor IX and its inhibitor may cause severe allergic reactions which can be a life-threatening anaphylactic response. These reactions can occur at the first infusion after the development of an inhibitor before it has been detected. For this reason, some doctors are recommending that babies be treated at the clinic until the likelihood of developing an inhibitor is low. While the development of inhibitors to Factor IX is rare and the occurrence of severe allergic reaction is even more rare, parents of infants and toddlers should be aware of those reports of anaphylactic reactions in factor IX inhibitor patients. Can development of an inhibitor be predicted? A development of an inhibitor to factor IX can be predicted, at least in part, by determining the kind of factor IX gene mutation the baby has. If he has a major
