CONTINUOUS-INFUSION THERAPY IN HEMOPHILIA

The application of coagulation factor therapy by continuous infusion ( CI) was first suggested by Brinkhous in the early 1950s [1]. The recen t introduction of this mode of therapy to everyday practice was made p ossible after the demonstration of a good stability of most factor con centrates which were also found safe regarding potential bacterial con tamination. Other developments included a better understanding of the pharmacokinetics of factors concentrates as well as the availability o f a new delivery system. Continuous infusion was shown to be superior to bolus injection (Bf) in achieving a stabile haemostatic effect, in the prevention of post-operative bleeding and was found to save betwee n 20-50% in the required factor. This mode of therapy was found effect ive in haemophilia A and B as well as among patients with inhibitors t o FVIII and with von Willebrand disease (vWD).