Thromb Haemost 1999; 81(02): 229-233
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614448
Review Articles
Schattauer GmbH

Safety and Efficacy of Continuous Infusion of a Combined Factor VIII – von Willebrand Factor (vWF) Concentrate (Haemate-P™) in Patients with von Willebrand Disease

Aharon Lubetsky
1   From the Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis and National Haemophilia Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
,
Sam Schulman
2   Haemophilia Center, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
,
David Varon
1   From the Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis and National Haemophilia Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
,
Uri Martinowitz
1   From the Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis and National Haemophilia Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
,
Gili Kenet
1   From the Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis and National Haemophilia Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
,
Sanford Gitel
1   From the Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis and National Haemophilia Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
,
Aida Inbal
1   From the Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis and National Haemophilia Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received25 May 1998

Accepted after resubmission13 October 1998

Publication Date:
08 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

We studied the safety and efficacy of treatment with continuous infusion of a von Willebrand factor (vWF) concentrate Haemate-P in patients with von Willebrand disease (vWD). Three patients with mild and 5 patients with severe forms of vWD, were treated with continuous infusion of Haemate-P by minipump. The indications for treatment were: to prevent bleeding during 9 surgical procedures or 1 vaginal delivery in 6 patients and to treat 2 bleeding episodes in 2 patients. The patients were monitored daily for factor VIII (FVIII:C) and ristocetin cofactor (vWF:RCo) levels and the infusion rate was adjusted to maintain the desired therapeutic level of vWF:RCo. The treatment was effective in preventing surgical bleeding and controlling bleeding episodes. All factor VIII:C and most of the vWF:RCo levels measured during the study period were above the target therapeutic levels. A significant decrease in clearance of FVIII:C and vWF:RCo was observed over the treatment period. Haemate-P consumption averaged 24.3 ± 7.9 vWF:RCo U/kg/day which is approximately half the expected dose had intermittent bolus injections been used. We suggest that continuous Haemate-P infusion is superior to intermittent bolus injections for the treatment of vWD patients by virtue of its efficiency, simplicity and considerable savings.