Plasmapheresis: its value in the management of patients with antibodies to factor VIII

Haemostasis. 1982;11(2):79-86. doi: 10.1159/000214644.

Abstract

12 plasmapheresis were carried out in 5 patients with antibodies to F VIII (3 haemaophilic antibodies; 2 spontaneous antibodies). Plasmapheresis led in all instances to a marked reduction of the antibody level there was a good correlation between the amount of plasma exchanged and the decrease of the antibody level. About 40 ml of plasma/kg body weight have to be removed to reduce the antibody level to half. In patients with low titre antibody who need treatment for serious bleeding, plasmapheresis is a more rapid and less expensive procedure than neutralisation of the inhibitor by high doses of F VIII. In one haemophiliac repeated plasmapheresis and subsequent high dose F VIII treatment eliminated the antibody within a short time. Plasmapheresis should always be considered when patients with antibodies to F VIII have to be treated because of severe bleeding.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens / immunology*
  • Antigens / therapeutic use
  • Blood Coagulation Factors / analysis
  • Factor VIII / immunology*
  • Factor VIII / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Hemophilia A / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory
  • Isoantibodies / biosynthesis*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasmapheresis* / adverse effects
  • Platelet Count
  • Shivering
  • Time Factors
  • von Willebrand Factor

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Blood Coagulation Factors
  • Isoantibodies
  • von Willebrand Factor
  • Factor VIII