title: The use of porcine factor VIII in the treatment of patients with acquired hemophilia: the United Kingdom experience.
abstract: Data have been collected by questionnaire on 15 acute bleeding episodes in 12 patients with acquired hemophilia, treated with porcine factor VIII (FVIII). The median initial anti-human FVIII inhibitor level was 40 Bethesda Units (BU)/ml, whereas that against porcine was 1 BU/ml. The mean initial dose of porcine FVIII infused was 54 micrograms/kg, which resulted in a rise of 0.57 IU/mL in the FVIII concentration. Therapy was continued for a mean of 8.5 days, during which time the average number of infusions was 11. Clinical response was rated as good or excellent in 82% of recipients. Side effects were uncommon; only one patient experienced a severe reaction. Following therapy, no increase in antihuman antibody levels was noted; increased levels of antiporcine antibody was detected in only two patients. One patient bled on three further occasions and was successfully retreated with porcine FVIII. Porcine FVIII is a safe and clinically effective treatment for bleeding episodes in acquired hemophilia and should be considered as first-line therapy for patients with low antiporcine FVIII levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ludlam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D005169:Factor VIII