Efficacy and safety of factor VIII/von Willebrand's factor concentrate (Haemate-P) in preventing bleeding during surgery or invasive procedures in patients with von Willebrand disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the factor VIII/von Willebrand factor concentrate Haemate-P as replacement therapy in patients with von Willebrand's disease (VWD) undergoing surgical or invasive procedures. DESIGN AND METHODS: Between January 1996 and October 2002, 26 patients (12 males and 14 females, median age 41.5 years, range 9-80 years), followed at three Italian Hemophilia Centers (Trento, Verona and Parma), with VWD type 1 (19 cases) and VWD type 2B (7 cases), underwent 43 surgical or invasive procedures: major surgery (14 cases), minor surgery (11 cases), dental extractions (11 cases), invasive diagnostic procedures (7 cases). Replacement therapy with factor VIII/von Willebrand factor concentrate (Haemate-P) was administered in the surgical setting as perioperative prophylaxis against excessive bleeding. RESULTS: The mean total dose (range) of Haemate-P used for major surgery was 284.1 IU VWF:RCo/kg (range 125.0-976.4), for minor surgery it was 120.8 IU VWF:RCo/kg (range 42.9-173.3), for dental extractions it was 38.4 IU VWF:RCo/kg (range 23.5-100.0) and for invasive procedures it was 87.3 VWF:RCo/kg (range 27.3-160.0). We recorded one bleeding episode 3 days after multiple dental extractions in a patient with severe periodontal disease; this bleeding was controlled with 2 further administrations of concentrate. We did not observe thrombotic episodes or other side effects following infusion of the concentrate. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, Haemate-P was effective and safe in preventing excessive bleeding after major and minor surgery or invasive procedures in VWD patients.