SYNTHETIC SORBENTS FOR REMOVAL OF FACTOR-VIII INHIBITORS FROM HEMOPHILIC-A PLASMA

Human factor VIII (FVIII) is a protein of the blood coagulation system that is absent or defective in patients with haemophilia A. A most se rious complication following replacement therapy in 10-15% of patients treated with available EVIII concentrate is the development of inhibi tors to FVIII (anti-FVIII). Some polymers functionalized with suitable chemical substituents which mimic part of the epitope of FVIII recogn ized by the inhibitors might be used in extracorporeal circulation to reduce the concentration of antibodies to FVIII. For this purpose, ins oluble polystyrene bearing sulfonate and L-tyrosine methyl ester sulfa mide groups have been synthesized. The in vitro removal of anti-FVIII inhibitors from plasmas of patients with haemophilia A was performed. Different chromatographic parameters were studied and optimized.