Prophylaxis for Mild or Moderate Hemophilia B

By Dr. David Clark

2/9/24 

Patients with mild or moderate hemophilia can also develop joint damage despite not having apparent joint bleeds.  A group of researchers from Spain decided to see how routine prophylaxis would affect their bleeding responses and their quality of life.  Four moderate hemophilia B patients plus one mild B from their treatment center agreed to start prophylaxis with extended half-life factor IX, once a week at 60 IU/kg.  All of the subjects had been on on-demand treatment and all had established joint damage of various severities. Their average annualized bleeding rate (ABR) fell from 3.0 before starting prophy to 0.25 after.  The authors also looked at five hemophilia A patients and found similar results.  Despite having to infuse more often, the patients reported satisfaction and improvement in their quality of life.  [EAHAD abstract PO083]