The recommended treatment plan for haemophilia depends on how severe the condition is.
There are two main approaches to treatment.
Haemophilia is usually treated by a team at a specialist haemophilia hospital
department.
Preventative treatment
Most cases of haemophilia are severe and
require preventative treatment (prophylaxis). This involves regular injections
of clotting factor medication.
When your child is young, you'll be trained
to give them the injections. They'll be taught how to inject themselves when
they're older to help avoid regular hospital appointments.
In some cases, injections may be given into
a device called an implantable port, which can be surgically placed under the
skin. This port is connected to a blood vessel near the heart, meaning you
don't need to try to find a vein for every injection.
If you're having preventative treatment,
you'll need regular follow-up appointments with your care team so your progress
can be monitored.
Preventative treatment is usually continued
until you're fully grown. After this point, it may be possible to change to
on-demand treatment, but you may be advised to switch back to preventative
treatment if you experience any episodes of significant bleeding.
Haemophilia A
Preventative treatment for haemophilia A
involves regular injections of a medication called octocog alfa. This is an
engineered version of clotting factor VIII (8), the clotting factor that people
with haemophilia A don't have enough of. Injections every 48 hours are often
recommended.
Side effects of octocog alfa are uncommon,
but can include an itchy skin rash and redness and soreness at the site of the
injection.
Haemophilia B
Preventative treatment for people with
haemophilia B involves regular injections of a medication called nonacog alfa.
This is an engineered version of clotting factor IX (9), which people with
haemophilia B don't have enough of. Injections twice a week are often
recommended.
Side effects of nonacog alfa are uncommon,
but include headaches, altered taste, nausea, and discomfort and swelling at
the injection site.
On-demand treatment
In mild or moderate cases, treatment for
haemophilia may only be necessary as an immediate response to bleeding.
Haemophilia A
People with haemophilia A can be treated
on-demand with injections of octocog alfa or a medication called desmopressin.
Desmopressin is a synthetic hormone.
Hormones are powerful chemicals that can have a wide range of effects on the
body. Desmopressin works by stimulating the production of clotting factor VIII
(8) and is usually given by injection.
Possible side effects of desmopressin
include headache, stomach pain and nausea.
Haemophilia B
On-demand treatment for haemophilia usually
involves injections of a medication called nonacog alfa.
