Continuous infusion therapy in haemophilia

Abstract

The application of coagulation factor therapy by continuous infusion (CI) was first suggested by Brinkhous in the early 1950s. The recent introduction of this mode of therapy to everyday practice was made possible after the demonstration of a good stability of most factor concentrates which were also found safe regarding potential bacterial contamination. Other developments included a better understanding of the pharmacokinetics of factors concentrates as well as the availability of a new delivery system. Continuous infusion was shown to be superior to bolus injection (BI) in achieving a stabile haemostatic effect, in the prevention of post-operative bleeding and was found to save between 20-50% in the required factor. This mode of therapy was found effective in haemophilia A and B as well as among patients with inhibitors to FVIII and with von Willebrand disease (vWD).