Adverse events during use of intranasal desmopressin acetate for haemophilia A and von Willebrand disease: a case report and review of 40 patients

We report our experience with the incidence of adverse events during the use of Stimate brand intranasal desmopressin acetate (IN DDAVP) for patients with haemophilia A (HA) or von Willebrand disease (vWD) after noting two severe adverse events in one adult patient. All patients with documented vWD (type 1 or 2 A) or haemophilia A (mild, moderate or symptomatic carrier) from the Emory Comprehensive Hemophilia Center who had IN DDAVP challenge testing or were using Stimate for treatment of bleeding were evaluated for adverse events by patient report or nursing observation of clinical signs and symptoms. Forty patients were studied. Sixty-eight per cent (27/40) experienced clinical signs and/or symptoms. The majority of these symptoms were mild, however several patients reported moderate to severe side-effects and one adult patient required medical intervention for symptomatic hyponatraemia. In our experience, two-thirds of patients tested experienced adverse signs and/or symptoms with the use of Stimate; considerably higher than that reported from preliminary results in the literature. Young age did not correlate positively with adverse reactions. Severe adverse events requiring medical intervention were rare, however symptoms such as moderate to severe headache, nausea, vomiting and weakness may necessitate evaluation for hyponatraemia. This is the first report of symptomatic hyponatraemia in an adult patient with recommended dosing of Stimate. Side-effects may be minimized if patients adhere to instructions regarding fluid intake and composition while using IN DDAVP.     

Variability of the factor VIII response to DDAVP in a large kindred with mild haemophilia A

Since 1977, desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) has established its important role in the clinical management of bleeding in milder cases of von Willebrand's disease and haemophilia A. We present in vivo DDAVP response data from a large kindred suffering from mild haemophilia A. Levels of FVIII: C in 22 affected family members ranged from 0.11 to 0.24 IU mL⁻¹ of FVIII: C (0.18 ± 0.04, mean ± SD), increasing to 0.22–0.92 IU mL⁻¹ after DDAVP, giving a mean response ratio of 3.5. Response rates by various routes of administration did not differ significantly, being 3.3 for subcutaneous administration ( n = 17), 3.7 for intravenous administration ( n = 4) and 3.2 for intranasal spray application ( n = 1). No significant correlation was found between the pretreatment level and the response rate. In three individuals, the post-DDAVP level of FVIII:C was below 0.40 IU mL⁻¹, the value we arbitrarily regard as the lower limit of a successful response for haemostatic efficacy suited for self-management purposes, demonstrating that the response rate in a given member of the family cannot be predicted from previous experiences with other haemophilic members of the same subset.     

DDAVP (desmopressin; 1-deamino-cys-8-D-arginine-vasopressin) treatment in children with haemophilia B

We tested the response to desmopressin (1-deamino-cys-8-D-arginine-vasopressin; DDAVP) in four patients with haemophilia B [factor IX (F IX) at diagnosis 1.4-5%]. The activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) was significantly shortened in all patients. Although there was an up to 1.4-fold increase in F IX levels in three patients, maximal F IX activity remained below 10%. Much more prominent were the increases in F VIII (three- to fourfold), in von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag; 2.5-fold) and particularly in VWF collagen-binding activity (VWF:CBA; fivefold). These changes were reflected by the prophylactic efficacy of DDAVP for dental surgery. After pretesting, DDAVP could be a useful drug for reducing the need for plasma products for prevention of minor surgical bleeding in patients with mild to moderate haemophilia B.     

DDAVP challenge tests in boys with mild/moderate haemophilia A

Desmopressin (DDAVP) increases plasma factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C) levels in patients with mild/moderate haemophilia A. In some subjects, FVIII can be increased to haemostatic levels, thereby avoiding use of factor VIII concentrates. We reviewed our hospital's experience with 62 boys with FVIII:C levels 0.01-0.3 IU/ml who had a DDAVP challenge test (i.v. 0.3 microg/kg) following diagnosis. A therapeutic response was defined as a 1 h post-FVIII:C increase at least twofold over baseline and > 0.3 IU/ml. Of the total group, 29 (47%) boys responded to DDAVP, all of them with mild haemophilia (baseline FVIII:C > or = 0.05 IU/ml), yielding a response rate of 57% in this subgroup. Boys who responded to DDAVP had higher baseline FVIII:C levels (mean +/- SEM, 0.17 +/- 0.01 vs 0.10 +/- 0.01 IU/ml, P < 0.01) and were older (5.2 +/- 0.8 vs 3 +/- 0.4 years, P = 0.02) than those who failed to do so. The association between DDAVP response and age, however, remains unclear: seven boys who failed the initial challenge test responded to re-challenge after a mean of 6.3 years (median 4.9, range 0.5-12.5), increasing the response rate in boys with mild haemophilia to 71%. Age and FVIII:C association with DDAVP response are both important in boys with mild/moderate haemophilia A. Absence of response to DDAVP should therefore be confirmed by later re-challenge.     

Factor VIII inhibitors in mild and moderate-severity haemophilia A

Summary. Inhibitors are an uncommon complication of mild haemophilia, occurring in 3–13% of patients and usually arising during adulthood. The risk of inhibitor development in this group appears to be associated with relatively few high-risk factor VIII genotypes clustered in the A2 and C2 domains, especially the Arg⁵⁹³-Cys and the Trp²²²⁹-Cys mutations. Kindreds with these mutations have an inhibitor incidence of up to 40%. These mutations may induce a stable conformational change in the factor VIII molecule rendering it antigenically distinct from wild-type factor VIII. Inhibitors in mild haemophilia usually cross-react with endogenous factor VIII reducing the basal VIIIC to <0.01 IU/ml, and causing spontaneous bleeding. This bleeding is sometimes severe and life-threatening, two-thirds of patients developing a pattern of soft tissue, gastrointestinal (GI) and urinogenital bleeding reminiscent of acquired haemophilia. Bleeding has been treated with human and porcine factor VIII, bypass therapy and DDAVP. Recombinant factor VIIa and DDAVP have the advantage that they do not induce an anamnestic rise in inhibitor titre. About 60% of these inhibitors disappear in the remainder over a median of 9 months. Few of these inhibitors recur, suggesting that most such patients have become tolerant. The inhibitors persist long-term and remain troublesome in about 40% of patients. The limited data available on immune tolerance induction in this group indicate a generally poor response to this approach. Two of nine achieved tolerance, with a partial response in a further four. Inhibitors are an uncommon but life-threatening complication of haemophilia. This complication should be considered when selecting the treatment modality for patients with a family history of inhibitors, and DDAVP used whenever possible.     

Patterns of development of tachyphylaxis in patients with haemophilia and von Willebrand disease after repeated doses of desmopressin (DDAVP)

When patients with mild haemophilia or von Willebrand disease (vWD) are repeatedly treated with desmopressin (DDAVP) at relatively short time intervals, some of them may become less responsive or unresponsive. The development of tachyphylaxis would limit the usefulness of DDAVP in clinical management of these patients. On the other hand, tachyphylaxis is not consistent, and its patterns of development are unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate in controlled conditions the occurrence of tachyphylaxis by giving intravenous DDAVP (0.3 microgram/kg) on four consecutive days to a selected group of patients with mild haemophilia A (n = 22) and type I vWD (n = 15). After each dose, we measured parameters known to change after DDAVP, i.e. factor VIII coagulant activity, bleeding time, von Willebrand factor antigen, ristocetin cofactor and tissue-type plasminogen activator antigen. We found that on average the responses obtained after the second dose of DDAVP were approximately 30% less than those obtained after the first, but were not further reduced after the third and fourth dose. At all time intervals after DDAVP, patients with vWD responded relatively better than patients with haemophilia, and there were fewer vWD patients who responded poorly or became unresponsive. In vWD patients there were no significant changes in the bleeding time responses and in blood pressure and heart rate. The clinical implications of these findings are that repeated doses of DDAVP can be given efficaciously to many patients (particularly to those with vWD), even though responses lower than those seen after the first dose should be expected.     

Intranasal DDAVP: biological and clinical evaluation in mild factor VIII deficiency.

We report a study undertaken to test the biological effect of intranasal 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) and its efficacy in the treatment of bleedings in patients with mild factor VIII deficiency. The biological study was carried out in 20 patients: an increase of factor VIII:C and von Willebrand factor antigen levels was observed after inhalation of DDAVP at average post/pre inhalation ratios of 2.80 and 1.72, respectively. No relevant alterations of fibrinolysis were noted. In fact, we only observed a simultaneous increase of tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor, without modification of D-dimer. In 10 cases intranasal DDAVP has been used in the prevention or in the treatment of bleeding complications: no bleedings were observed.     

Safety and efficacy of a new recombinant FVIII formulated with sucrose (rFVIII–FS) in patients with haemophilia A: a long-term, multicentre clinical study in Japan

The recombinant full-length FVIII product Kogenate has been reformulated using sucrose (rFVIII-FS) instead of human serum albumin as a stabiliser in purification and formulation. The in vivo recovery, haemostatic efficacy, and safety of rFVIII-FS were investigated in 20 previously treated patients with severe or moderate haemophilia A for > or = 24 weeks. In vivo recoveries of 73.5 +/- 16.3%, 78.4 +/- 16.1%, and 82.8 +/- 23.9% after the initial infusion of 50 IU kg(-1) rFVIII-FS and at weeks 12 and 24, respectively, showed no significant changes over time. A total of 1115 infusions (mean dose 24.1 +/- 8.4 IU kg(-1)) were included in the analysis of haemostatic efficacy. One (80.5%) or two (8.2%) infusions achieved adequate haemostasis in 88.7% of all bleeding episodes, and haemostatic efficacy was judged 'excellent' or 'good' in 749 of 764 episodes (98.0%). The haemostatic efficacy was judged as 'excellent' or 'good' in 924 of 1115 (82.9%) infusions. Twenty-one adverse events were observed in 12 patients in the total 1541 infusions included in the safety analysis. Causality with respect to rFVIII-FS could not be ruled out in three events in one HIV-negative patient: elevated CD4(%), decreased CD8(%), and elevated CD4/CD8 ratio. No FVIII inhibitor development was observed in any patient. ELISA assay testing for antibodies to rFVIII, baby hamster kidney cell (BHK) protein, and murine IgG were all negative. These results show that rFVIII-FS is a safe and effective for long-term treatment of patients with haemophilia A.     

The administration of desmopressin by nasal spray: a dose-determination study in patients with mild haemophilia A or von Willebrand's disease

Desmopressin is an important haemostatic agent in many types of bleeding disorders. The intranasal route for administration of desmopressin has attracted much interest because it is convenient and makes self-treatment possible. In the present study the effects of three doses (300, 450 and 600 μg) of desmopressin delivered by nasal spray and those of 0.3 μg/kg injected intravenously were compared in five patients with haemophilia A and 11 with von Willebrand's disease. There was no statistically significant difference in peak VIII:C concentration in the haemophilia patients and no difference in peak vWF concentration in von Willebrand patients between the four desmopressin dosages. Bleeding time response was comparable after all four dosages. We recommend a spray dosage of 300 μg for home treatment. As cover for major surgery or in connection with severe bleedings, however, intravenous administration is to be recommended.     

DDAVP responsiveness in children with mild or moderate haemophilia A correlates with age,endogenous FVIII:C level and with haemophilic genotype

Summary. In most individuals with moderate/mild haemophilia A, FVIII:C levels increase following DDAVP administration to a haemostatic range, thus avoiding the need for FVIII concentrates. We sought to determine the relationship between responsiveness to DDAVP in boys (<18 years old) with mild/moderate haemophilia and patient age, haemophilic severity and haemophilic genotype. Our cohort consisted of 13 boys with moderate and 61 boys with mild haemophilia who, between them, had 38 different mutations; 21 had unique mutations not shared by any other clinic patient, whereas 53 shared one of 17 mutations with some other clinic patient (included 26 boys with ≥1 haemophilic brother). Patient age and endogenous FVIII:C levels were strong predictors of response to DDAVP. Younger patients responded less well to DDAVP and 10 of the 11 patients, when retested at an older age, showed an improved response to DDAVP. Only 1 patient with moderate haemophilia responded to DDAVP, whereas 80% of patients with mild haemophilia responded (including all patients with an endogenous FVIII:C of >0.15 U mL⁻¹). Almost all patients with the same mutation had the same response to DDAVP or only a minor discordance in response. Patient’s age, disease severity and genotype all are predictors of response to DDAVP.     

The natural history of mild haemophilia: a 30‐year single centre experience

Summary. Although up to 50% of all haemophilic patients followed at haemophilia treatment centres (HTCs) are affected by a mild factor VIII (FVIII) or factor IX (FIX) defect, published data regarding the natural history of these disorders are scarce. To fill this lack of information, a retrospective single centre study was conducted. All cases with mild haemophilia (75 A and 7 B) followed at the regional reference HTC of Parma were evaluated. The patients’ median age at diagnosis was 11.5 years and their median age at first bleeding was 5.5 years; 95% of patients had a history of haemorrhagic problems during their life. Twenty‐three percent of patients were infected by HCV, and none by HIV. Genetic analysis was performed in 80 patients (97% haemophilia A and 100% haemophilia B) and 21 different mutations were characterized. Eleven percent of patients had never received treatment, whereas 67% were treated with plasma‐derived or recombinant FVIII/FIX concentrates (4% developed inhibitors). desmopressin (DDAVP) was used in 80% of the haemophilia A patients. The response to DDAVP was closely related to the patients’ genetic profile, as 60% of non‐responders had a mutation in the F8 promoter region. Patients with mild haemophilia may experience a variety of medical problems, sometimes challenging for the physicians, during their lifetime. The HTCs play an important role in the management of these patients, whose diagnosis is often delayed. The HTCs should improve patients’ knowledge and consideration of their disease and encourage them to maintain regular contact with their haemophilia care provider.     

Clinical outcome of moderate haemophilia compared with severe and mild haemophilia

Summary.  Information on outcome and treatment of patients with moderate haemophilia is scarce. In this study, we compared self-reported burden of disease in moderate haemophilia to severe and mild haemophilia. A nationwide questionnaire on bleeding pattern, treatment, impairment and quality of life was sent to 1567 Dutch patients with haemophilia. Out of 1066 respondents (response rate: 68%), 16% had moderate, 44% severe and 39% mild haemophilia. Median age was 36 years. Although overall outcome in moderate haemophilia was in between severe and mild haemophilia, moderate haemophilia patients did report a substantial burden of disease. The majority of patients with moderate haemophilia (73%) reported bleeds in the previous year; and a considerable proportion of moderate patients reported joint impairment (43%), chronic pain (15%), needed orthopaedic aids (24%) or were unemployed because of disability (27%). Within the group of moderate haemophilia patients, a large variation in bleeding pattern and outcome was observed. A quarter of patients with moderate haemophilia reported a more severe phenotype and intermittent use of prophylaxis. These patients reported frequent bleeding, with a median of eight bleeds per year, including two joint bleeds, and 68% reported joint impairment. In conclusion: Although outcome in moderate haemophilia is generally in between severe and mild haemophilia, moderate haemophilia patients reported a substantial burden of disease, and for more than 25% of patients with moderate haemophilia long term prophylaxis was implemented because of frequent bleeds.     

Clinical efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetic properties of the factor VIII concentrate Haemoctin® SDH in previously treated patients with severe haemophilia A

Clinical efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetic properties of the high-purity double-virus inactivated plasma-derived factor VIII concentrate Haemoctin SDH (pdFVIII) were evaluated in three prospective open-label uncontrolled studies in previously treated patients (PTPs) with severe haemophilia A. The pharmacokinetic properties assessed at baseline and after 3 months of treatment are in accurate accordance with published data and remain unchanged over time (study A, n = 12). Mean terminal elimination half-life was 11.8 and 11.9 h, mean incremental recovery (IU dL(-1)/IU kg(-1)) was 2.3 and 2.0, respectively. Long-term efficacy and safety, in particular the potential immunogenicity, were investigated in a total of 53 PTPs (studies A and B) treated prophylactically and on-demand, as required. PdFVIII has shown to be effective in preventing and controlling bleeding episodes; 23.5% of patients were free of bleeding events. A total of 177 haemorrhages occurred with 74.0% resolving after a single infusion, 87.6% within two infusions. 98.3% of responses reported on haemorrhages were rated as 'excellent' or 'good'. Moreover, 'excellent' haemostatic efficacy has been demonstrated in 10 surgical procedures including general and severe orthopaedic interventions (study C). No complication occurred in any surgery. Few adverse events were reported, one patient developed a high-titre FVIII inhibitor without clinical relevance. In all three studies, over 6 million units were administered in nearly 4300 infusions, approximately 94% units or infusions were given for prophylaxis and only 6% for treatment on-demand. In conclusion, pdFVIII has shown to be effective, safe and well tolerated in long-term prophylaxis and treatment on-demand as well as after minor and major surgical procedures.     

Intranasal desmopressin (DDAVP) by spray in mild hemophilia A and von Willebrand's disease type I

Summary Desmopressin acetate (1-desamino-8-Darginine vasopressin, DDAVP) has mostly been given by the parenteral route for the treatment of mild hemophilia A and von Willebrand's disease type I. In the present study the hemostatic effects of desmopressin acetate administered intranasally by spray in a dose of 300µg and intravenously 0.3–0.4µg/kg were assessed and compared in 8 patients with hemophilia A and 22 patients with von Willebrand's disease type I. A bioequivalent response to intravenous and intranasal desmopressin acetate was found in Factor VIII coagulant activity (VIII:C) in the hemophilia patients. In the von Willebrand patients, an equivalent shortening of the bleeding time was seen after the two modes of administration, even though intravenous injection gave a higher increase in plasma levels of VIII:C and vWF:Ag. In five patients with von Willebrand's disease the duration of the spray effect on VIII:C and vWF:Ag was followed for 24 h. After 12 h the mean level of VIII : C was 1.4, and of vWF:Ag 1.5, times the basal level. The findings suggest that the spray can be recommended for home or prophylactic treatment of patients with mild hemophilia A and von Willebrand's disease.     

Ten‐year experience of recombinant activated factor VII use in surgical patients with congenital haemophilia with inhibitors or acquired haemophilia in Japan

Patients with congenital haemophilia with inhibitors or acquired haemophilia are at risk of bleeding complications during surgery. In these patients, replacement therapy for the missing coagulation factor is ineffective, and a bypassing agent such as recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is required to manage bleeding. To evaluate the safety and haemostatic efficacy of rFVIIa treatment in Japanese patients with congenital haemophilia with inhibitors to FVIII/FIX or acquired haemophilia undergoing surgery. Postmarketing surveillance data from May 2000 to March 2010 were analysed to assess the haemostatic efficacy of 38 procedures in 22 patients with congenital haemophilia A, 13 procedures in seven patients with congenital haemophilia B, and five procedures in five patients with acquired haemophilia. Postoperative bleeding control was judged to be effective (bleeding was stopped completely or reduced considerably) for 34/38 procedures (89%) in patients with congenital haemophilia A, 10/13 procedures (77%) in patients with congenital haemophilia B, and 4/5 procedures (80%) in patients with acquired haemophilia. Tranexamic acid was used concomitantly for 36/56 procedures (64%). Safety was analysed for 66 procedures in 37 patients. Adverse effects potentially related to rFVIIa treatment included mild superficial thrombophlebitis, mild decrease in platelet count, and mild elevation of the serum alanine transaminase level in one patient each. All adverse effects resolved without treatment. Administration of rFVIIa provided adequate haemostasis without serious adverse effects in the majority of cases. The efficacy and safety data in Japanese patients were similar to previously published data from other countries.     

Continuous intravenous infusion of a plasma-derived factor IX concentrate (Mononine®) in haemophilia B

This prospective, multicentre, open-label study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a plasma-derived factor IX concentrate [Mononine, Coagulation Factor IX (Human) Monoclonal Antibody Purified] administered by continuous intravenous (CIV) infusion to patients with haemophilia B. Admission criteria included documented diagnosis of haemophilia B (mild, moderate, or severe). Twenty-eight patients (25 surgery, two trauma, one severe spontaneous haemorrhage) were enrolled to receive a therapeutic bolus dose followed by CIV infusion of factor IX (FIX) to maintain FIX:C plasma levels of 0.4-1.0 IU mL(-1) (i.e. 40-100%). A median intravenous bolus dose of 54.2 IU kg(-1) FIX was administered to a subset of 13 non-emergency patients 7-21 days prior to CIV infusion to determine pharmacokinetic parameters in order to guide the dosing for CIV. For treatment, a bolus injection (median FIX dose; 89.6 IU kg(-1)) (range, 12.4-108.3), followed by a median total CIV infusion dose of 396.4 IU kg(-1) (range, 44.9-785.5) was administered at a median rate of 3.84 IU kg(-1) h(-1) (range, 1.74-7.33) for 107.17 h (range, 31.75-144). Twenty-four patients completed 72-120 h of FIX CIV infusion. Overall, 'excellent' (i.e. achievement of normal haemostasis) efficacy was reported in 23 of 24 (96%) evaluable patients, and 'good' (i.e. slight oozing) efficacy was reported in one (4%) patient. Median FIX:C was 72-86% for all patients receiving FIX by CIV on all days. Nine patients reported 13 adverse events that were possibly related to study medication but were not deemed serious by the investigator and were mainly because of local irritation at the infusion site. FIX CIV infusion therapy is safe and effective in the treatment of haemophilia B patients undergoing surgery, exposed to trauma, or experiencing severe spontaneous haemorrhage.     

A Systematic Review: The use of desmopressin for treatment and prophylaxis of bleeding disorders in pregnancy

Summary. Desmopressin (DDAVP) is commonly used for treatment and prevention of bleeding complications in patients with bleeding disorders including haemophilia A, von Willebrand’s disease (VWD) and other less common disorders. This article reviews the current evidence for the use of DDAVP in pregnancy to clarify its efficacy and safety with regard to maternal and foetal outcome. A search of the literature found 30 studies that reported DDAVP use in pregnancy for prophylaxis or treatment of bleeding complications with 216 pregnancies reported in total. The most common indication was prophylaxis for prevention of bleeding during pregnancy and postpartum haemorrhage. DDAVP was used successfully in the first and early second trimester for bleeding prophylaxis in 50 pregnancies. No postpartum bleeding complications were reported in 167 out of 172 pregnancies when DDAVP was used for peripartum haemostatic cover. Twenty‐nine studies reported no significant adverse events as a result of treatment with DDAVP. One case of water intoxication seizure and one case of premature labour following the use of DDAVP was reported in a single study. Other maternal side effects included facial flushing and headache and were reported by one study. These side effects were generally well tolerated by patients. There were no other significant adverse events reported in any of the studies as a result of DDAVP use. Foetal outcome was recorded in ten studies with no adverse foetal outcomes. In conclusion, this review shows that DDAVP in selected cases is effective in reducing bleeding complications associated with pregnancy and childbirth with a good safety record. Further research is needed to confirm these findings as they are based on the currently available evidence from small studies and case series only.     

Desmopressin for the treatment of haemophilia

Summary.  The synthetic vasopressin analogue (1–deamino-8- d -arginine-vasopressin) increases plasma concentration of factor VIII and von Willebrand factor in normal subjects and patients with mild haemophilia A and von Willebrand disease. Since its first clinical use in 1977, desmopressin has become the treatment of choice for patients with haemophilia A and factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C) > 5% and has spared several patients the risk of acquiring blood-borne viral infections due to the use of non-virally inactivated plasma-derived FVIII concentrates. An average two to sixfolds FVIII:C increase is typically observed in most patients and return to baseline occurs usually within 8 hours. Several clinical studies have demonstrated the clinical efficacy and safety of desmopressin and the availability of concentrated formulation for subcutaneous injection and of a nasal spray has paved the way to home-treatment. However, overall it appears that haemophilic children may have a lower rate of biologic response compared to adults and a minority of adult patients are not able to attain clinically useful FVIII:C levels post-desmopressin administration. Thus, in every patient with haemophilia A likely to be treated or candidate to an elective invasive procedure, a test-infusion/injection should be carried out to assess the future usefulness of the compound.     

Desmopressin: therapeutic limitations in children and adults with inherited coagulation disorders

Desmopressin (DDAVP), a synthetic analogue of vasopressin has been successfully used in the treatment of type I von Willebrand's disease (VWD), mild factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency and intrinsic platelet function defects (PFDs) for almost three decades. However, there is limited published data documenting its efficacy and the reliability of circulating plasma FVIII:C as a surrogate marker of response to therapy in VWD. We report the haemostatic response to DDAVP in 133 consecutive patients (91 type I VWD, 20 mild FVIII deficiency and 22 PFDs). Minimal therapeutic response to DDAVP (0.3 microg/kg) was defined by normalization 30 min post- infusion of bleeding time for PFDs, factor VIII:C (FVIII:C) for mild haemophilia A, and von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag), von Willebrand factor functional activity (VWF:Ac) and FVIII:C for VWD. Nine out of 91 (10%) VWD patients failed to achieve minimal therapeutic response to DDAVP; plasma FVIII:C levels were an unreliable surrogate marker of DDAVP response as 6 out of 9 (67%) of these patients had normal post-infusion FVIII:C levels. Five out of the 20 (25%) patients with mild FVIII deficiency and 5 out of 22 (23%) patients with PFDs failed to achieve a minimal therapeutic response to DDAVP. DDAVP is an effective therapy in the majority of patients with type I VWD, PFDs and mild FVIII deficiency. The significant failure rate associated with this therapy supports the recent recommendations that response should be assessed in all patients at the time of diagnosis. FVIII:C is an unreliable guide of response to DDAVP in patients with VWD and therefore VWF:Ag and VWF:Ac should also be assessed. Failure to demonstrate the response of VWF:Ag, VWF:Ac and FVIII:C to DDAVP in patients with VWD is likely to increase the risk of haemorrhagic complications in patients with bleeding episodes or who are undergoing surgery.     

Do patients with haemophilia and von Willebrand disease with arterial hypertension have bleeding complications: a German single centre cohort

Arterial hypertension is very common and occurs often in patients with haemophilia A (HA) and von Willebrand disease (VWD) due to their increased life expectancy. Bleeding complications in haemophilia and von Willebrand patients with hypertension so far are not well evaluated. Even data regarding the use of antihypertensive treatment in these patients are lacking. That is why we want to establish a register of the patients regarding the bleeding complications under arterial hypertension. The prevalence of arterial hypertension in our patients' population (n = 258 of >18 years, 121 men, 137 women) was as follow: 190 patients had VWD 1, eight VWD 2A, one VWD 2B, five VWD 3, 39 haemophilia A (two severe, one moderate, 36 mild). All patients (n = 258) had arterial hypertension because this was our issue. Certainly, patients even had more coronary risk factors. One important risk factor was hyperlipoproteinemia (n = 111). Nicotine abuse was rare (nine patients, 3.4%). Adipositas (78 ± 18 kg, range 37-164 kg, median BMI = 23.2 kg/m(2)) as well as obstructive sleep apnoea (two patients) were not common. Regarding the cohort, 57 patients with bleeding disorder and hypertension suffered from coronary artery disease. No major bleeding or ischemic complications were observed. Obviously, patients with haemophilia and VWD with arterial hypertension do not have an increased risk of bleeding. Adequate treatment is necessary. International registers with a larger number of patients can be useful.