Comparison of clotting factor treatments

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Comparison of clotting factor treatments

To understand the use and outcomes of on-demand and regularly scheduled clotting factor replacement, a European study compared treatment outcomes during 1997 for two groups of people with severe hemophilia. All 155 participants in the study were born between 1970 and 1981. The group of 106 treated in France had primarily received on-demand treatment, while the group of 49 treated in the Netherlands had primarily received regularly scheduled treatment.

The study measured the frequency of joint bleeding episodes and the amount of clotting factor that was received by participants during a single year. The study also measured the participants' health-related quality of life, including mental and general health, role limitations, and pain.

Graph 1 shows the general health of participants during 1997 compared with the general population. A higher score reflects better general health, while a lower score reflects poorer general health. Participants receiving on-demand treatment reported poorer general health, while participants receiving regularly scheduled treatment reported better general health.

Graph 2 shows the average number of joint bleeding episodes participants had during 1997.

Graph 3 shows the average amount of clotting factor replacement in international units (IU) that participants received during 1997.

Fischer K, et al. (2002). Prophylactic versus on-demand treatment strategies for severe haemophilia: A comparison of costs and long-term outcome. Haemophilia, 8(6): 745–752.

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Last updated:	August 20, 2007
Reviewed By:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology