Consensus opinion for the selection and use of therapeutic products for the treatment of haemophilia in Spain

Abstract

The period between isolation of HIV in the early 1980s and the development of effective viral inactivation procedures able to eradicate the virus from the blood supply was long and unfortunately many recipients of blood-derived products became infected; this translated into a devastating impact on their quality of life, quality of care as well as on their life expectancy. Some years later, hepatitis C virus infection was identified as another known blood-borne disease complicating the treatment of haemophilia. Nowadays, the potential threat of emerging new pathogens has stressed the need to provide effective but primarily safe products with regard to infectious agents, as well as to regularly update therapeutic guidelines for haemophilia. The aim of the present publication was to review some of the crucial aspects related to the choice of haemostatic concentrates for the treatment of haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders, to analyse the current situation in the United States, Canada and European Union countries and to report the most relevant aspects of the Spanish consensus opinion of haemophilia-treating doctors for the use of therapeutic products for haemophilia recently issued. Essentially, it suggests that a gradual switch to recombinant concentrates may be a beneficial decision for patients with haemophilia and for the National Health Service.