The use of a blood coagulant extract from the human placenta in the treatment of hemophilia

Abstract

Summary Tissue protein extracts prepared from the human placenta have been found to have the same type of effect in the control of local hemorrhage as has been reported from the use of animal tissue extracts. However, a striking difference has been observed in the results with this extract and those reported from the use of animal tissue preparations in the treatment of patients with hemophilia. Animal tissue extracts have shortened the coagulation time of the blood of patients with hemophilia for very brief periods, whereas human placental extracts have reduced the clotting time of both venous and capillary blood for periods varying from forty-eight hours to as long as nine days. Despite repeated slight trauma incident to active childhood, two children with hemophilia have been able to lead normal, active lives for periods of several months by the continued administration of this material at carefully regulated intervals. In the relatively small series of patients with hemophilia herein reported, the blood coagulant extract has been well tolerated by oral administration or by intramuscular injection. It must be emphasized that this blood coagulant extract is fatal when injected intravenously in small laboratory animals. Therefore, in using this material in patients with hemophilia, intravenous injection must be avoided as by this route unfortunate, if not fatal, results might ensue.