title: Clinical uses of plasma and plasma fractions: plasma-derived products for hemophilias A and B, and for von Willebrand disease.
abstract: The use of plasma-derived factor products to treat hemophilia A, hemophilia B, and von Willebrand disease (vWD) has changed since the start of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. The use of plasma-derived factor concentrates for hemophilias A and B has decreased in developed countries because of the availability of recombinant products. However, in developing countries, which encompass most of the world's hemophilia community, plasma-product-based therapy remains the backbone of treatment because of economic constraints. Viral attenuation strategies have resulted in a much safer product profile. vWD product selection is less complicated than for hemophilas A and B because plasma-derived products are the only choice for patients who are unresponsive or who cannot receive pharmacologic therapy. As the majority of patients in the world with hemophilias A, B and vWD are treated with plasma-derived clotting factors, the need for these safe and efficacious therapies will continue in the future. This chapter discusses safety strategies for plasma-derived clotting factor, its availability, economics, efficacy, and inhibitor formation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant, Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, 2015 Uppergate Dr. NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Cassandra D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Josephson
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Abshire
mesh_terms: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002836:Hemophilia B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000821:virology; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors