Clinical uses of plasma and plasma fractions: plasma-derived products for hemophilias A and B, and for von Willebrand disease

The use of plasma-derived factor products to treat hemophilia A, hemophilia B, and von Willebrand disease (vWD) has changed since the start of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. The use of plasma-derived factor concentrates for hemophilias A and B has decreased in developed countries because of the availability of recombinant products. However, in developing countries, which encompass most of the world's hemophilia community, plasma-product-based therapy remains the backbone of treatment because of economic constraints. Viral attenuation strategies have resulted in a much safer product profile. vWD product selection is less complicated than for hemophilas A and B because plasma-derived products are the only choice for patients who are unresponsive or who cannot receive pharmacologic therapy. As the majority of patients in the world with hemophilias A, B and vWD are treated with plasma-derived clotting factors, the need for these safe and efficacious therapies will continue in the future. This chapter discusses safety strategies for plasma-derived clotting factor, its availability, economics, efficacy, and inhibitor formation.

Key words: hemophilia treatment, plasma-derived factor products, viral attenuation