Hemophilia Care in Italy^[*]

Summary

Twenty specialized centres for the care of hemophilia and allied disorders have now been established in Italy. Their geographic distribution is uneven and the number is considered inadequate. Financial support is provided by regional Health Departments or by University and General Hospitals; a bill recognizing hemophilia as a social disease entitles the centres to an annual grant from the State or Regional Boards. Less than half of factor VIII employed in the management of hemophilia A is supplied as a cryoprecipitate from hospital blood banks; the rest is imported from commercial manufacturers who also satisfy all the demand for prothrombin complex concentrates. Commercial freeze-dried concentrates can also be obtained free of charge at pharmacies by hemophiliacs covered by national social security schemes. This arrangement facilitates home treatment, which appears the ideal form of management in a country with the geographical features of Italy. In Lombardy, a bill allows hemophiliacs or their relatives to give infusions after adequate instruction. All this has been a great help in achieving more modern management of hemophilia; however, dependence on imported commercial concentrates appears unreasonable on a long-term basis, and major efforts should be directed towards developing a national program for manufacturing blood components.

^* Presented at the Symposium held during the 3rd meeting of the European and African Division of the International Society of Haematology in London, August 1975.

^** International Training Centre of the World Federation of Hemophilia.

• References

• 1 Biggs R. 1974; Factor VIII concentrates made in the United Kingdom and the treatment of haemophilia based on studies made during 1969—72. British Journal of Haematology 27: 391.
• 2 Dioguardi N, and Mannucci P. M. 1971; Tre anni di attività (1968-70) di un Centro di assistenza agli emofilici. Haematologica 56: 1.
• 3 Ghessi A. 1975; I centri di produzione degli emoderivati nel quadro regionale. II Diritto alla Salute 1: 23.
• 4 Mannucci P. M, Mari D, Minetti D, and Ruggeri Z. M. 1973 A program for home care of hemophilia in Italy. Proceedings of the Second European Meeting of the World Federation of Hemophilia, Heidelberg, 1—3 October 1973
• 5 Panicucci F, and Baicchi U. 1973 Home transfusion program for symptomatic and prophylactic treatment of hemophilia. Proceedings of the Second European Meeting of the World Federation of Hemophilia, Heidelberg, 1—3 October 1973
• 6 Pilot study of hemophilia treatment in the United States.. National Blood Resource Program. National Institute of Health; Bethesda, Maryland: vol. 3, pag. 44 1972