Aug
8
2018
New FVIII Center Crosses Disciplines to Reach Answers for Hemophilia A
Hematologists have grappled for many years to understand the basic mechanisms underlying why some young patients with the inherited bleeding disorder hemophilia A develop inhibitory antibodies, also known as factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitors, to protein replacement therapy. The presence of FVIII inhibitors is a serious obstacle that makes it difficult and extremely expensive to treat their hemophilia, leads to complications such as joint disease, and increases mortality.
Such a major challenge requires major brain power. So the National Institutes of Health called on the scientific community to reframe the question: Why is FVIII so immunogenic?