What treatments are available for hemophiliacs with inhibitors?
Some hemophiliacs are not helped by immune tolerance therapy. They continue to have high levels of inhibitors which eliminate the normal factor VIII and IX concentrates infused. They need other kinds of treatment which do not eliminate the inhibitor but rather are aimed at stopping bleeding. People with severe hemophilia A can receive: • activated prothrombin complex concentrate (called FEIBA®VH in Canada) • recombinant factor VIIa (called Niastase® in Canada). People with mild or moderate hemophilia A can receive: • activated prothrombin complex concentrate • recombinant factor VIIa • desmopressin. People with hemophilia B can receive: recombinant factor VIIa. (For more information about inhibitors, see All About Inhibitors, published by the Canadian Hemophilia Society.
