Cost effectiveness of prophylactic treatment with activated prothrombin complex concentrate in a patient with inhibitor-positive hemophilia A

Abstract

Patients with hemophilia and high titers of inhibitors are hard to treat during bleeding events and consequently are more likely to incur high treatment costs and to experience deterioration in quality of life. We report here the case of a boy with hemophilia A and high titers of inhibitors who responded well to prophylactic activated prothrombin complex concentrate (APCC) treatment. Previously, he had to be hospitalized frequently because of painful bleeding of target joints of the knee and ankle. At the age of 4 years and 3 months, APCC prophylaxis at a dose of 60 U/kg, three times a week, was initiated together with on-demand therapy with recombinant factor VIIa. This reduced the frequency and severity of bleeding and ended the need for hospitalization. This, together with a decreased requirement for bypass agents, APCC treatment significantly reduced the cost of treatment for this patient.