Factor VIII and transmissible spongiform encephalopathy: the case for safety.
Haemophilia A is the most common inherited bleeding disorder, caused by a deficiency in coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Current treatment of haemophilia A is based on repeated infusions of plasma-derived FVIII concentrate or of recombinant FVIII, which may be exposed to plasma-derived material of human or animal origin used in its tissue culture production process. We review epidemiological and experimental studies relevant to blood infectivity in the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs, or 'prion' diseases), and evaluate the hypothetical risk of TSE transmission through treatment with plasma-derived or recombinant FVIII.
Cervenakova
L
L
J. Holland Laboratory, American Red Cross, Rockville, MD 20855, USA. cervenak@usa.redcross.org
Brown
P
P
Hammond
D J
DJ
Lee
C A
CA
Saenko
E L
EL
D000818:Animals; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D007562:Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000635:transmission*
D005169:Factor VIII