• Diagnosis
• What is…

There are several types of treatment, but there are two main aims:

1. Stopping the immediate bleeding
2. Reducing or stopping production of the antibody (inhibitor) that is causing the problem

1. Stopping the bleeding

This is the first aim. This usually involves injections of clotting factors into a vein, usually through a cannula (or drip). Doctors or nurses may give these several times a day.

There are a number of different products available, including bypassing agents which work around the inhibitor and help the blood to clot. Some are prepared from blood plasma donations whilst others are called ”recombinant” products and are made in a laboratory.

If you have any questions about your treatment ask the doctors or nurses who are looking after you.

2. Stopping the production of the antibody

Several different treatments may be used and the doctors and nurses looking after you will discuss the options with you.

Many of the treatments are tablets that will be started in hospital but may be continued once a person goes home.

Examples of the medication that may be used to stop the production of the antibody include:

• Steroids – usually prednisolone. These suppress (dampen down) the body’s immune system.
• Cytotoxic therapy – such as cyclophosphamide. These suppress the body’s immune system. Many people may be worried as they have heard that these are drugs used in the treatment of cancer. It is important to remember that acquired haemophilia is not a form of cancer. These drugs are also used in many other conditions such a rheumatoid arthritis where there is a problem with the immune system.
• Immunomodulatory therapy – such as Rituximab. These drugs that stop the body from producing antibodies to the clotting factors.

Other treatments may include immunoglobulins (IvIg), plasmaphersis.

If you have any questions about your treatment ask the doctors or nurses who are looking after you.