title: Formation of antibodies to factor VIII in patients with hemophilia A who are treated with interferon for chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the risk for development of antibodies to factor VIII (factor VIII inhibitors) during and after interferon therapy in patients with hemophilia A and chronic hepatitis C infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were divided into two treatment groups and an untreated control group. Test results from the two treatment groups were compared with those from the control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  3 clinical centers in the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  35 men with hemophilia A who had acquired hepatitis C through the use of plasma-derived clotting factor concentrates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were tested for factor VIII inhibitors before the start of interferon therapy and every 6 months thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  21 patients with hemophilia A received interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection for a mean of 19.5 months (range, 0.5 to 36 months). In 2 patients, inhibitors were detected on one occasion (maximum titer, 1.2 Bethesda units/mL) during interferon therapy. In 3 patients who were known to have had inhibitors before interferon therapy, no anamnestic reaction was seen during treatment. In 3 of 14 untreated controls who were followed for a mean of 28 months (range, 18 to 40 months), inhibitors were detected on one occasion (maximum titer, 2.3 Bethesda units/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term interferon therapy in patients with hemophilia did not increase the risk for development of factor VIII inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Van Creveld Clinic University Hospital Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Mauser-Bunschoten
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Damen
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Reesink
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roosendaal
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Chamuleau
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: van den Berg
mesh_terms: D000917:Antibody Formation; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000276:immunology*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands
chemical_list: D005169:Factor VIII; D007372:Interferons