The use of recombinant activated factor VII in congenital and acquired von Willebrand disease.
Recombinant activated factor VII (NovoSeven), a novel hemostatic agent originally developed for the treatment of bleeding episodes in hemophilia A or B patients with inhibitors, has been recently employed with benefit for the management of hemorrhages in other nonhemophilic congenital and acquired hemostatic abnormalities. This review focuses on the use of this drug in acquired and congenital von Willebrand disease. The analysis of the literature data shows that recombinant activated factor VII is an effective agent for the treatment of refractory bleeding in von Willebrand disease patients and for the treatment or prevention of bleeding in those patients with alloantibodies or autoantibodies against von Willebrand factor. Further studies are needed, however, to assess its safety and to optimize the dosages and regimens of therapy in such patients.
Franchini
Massimo
M
Servizio di Immunoematologia e Trasfusione - Centro Emofilia, Azienda Ospedaliera di Verona, Verona, Italy. massimo.franchini@azosp.vr.it
Veneri
Dino
D
Lippi
Giuseppe
G
D005167:Factor VII / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015942:Factor VIIa; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D006490:Hemostatics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D005167:Factor VII; C103587:recombinant FVIIa; D015942:Factor VIIa