Phage display technology: A tool to explore the diversity of inhibitors toblood coagulation factor VIII

Hemophilia A is a X-linked bleeding disorder that is caused by the function al absence of blood coagulation factor VIII, The bleeding tendency in hemop hilia A patients can be corrected by the administration of plasma-derived o r recombinant factor VIII concentrates. A serious complication in hemophili a care is the development of factor VIII neutralizing antibodies (inhibitor s) that arise as a consequence of factor WI replacement therapy. The majori ty of factor VIII inhibitors are directed toward epitopes located within th e A2, A3, and C2 domains of factor VIII. In this article, we summarize curr ent knowledge on the epitope specificity of factor VIII inhibitors. In addi tion, we will discuss recent information on the molecular characteristics o f human anti-factor VIII antibodies generated by phage display technology.