Occurrence and management of severe bleeding episodes in patients with hereditary factor X deficiency

Hereditary factor X deficiency in America survey: impact on quality of life and burden of disease in patients and caregivers

Hereditary factor X deficiency (HFXD) is a rare bleeding disorder causing delayed haemostasis and potentially life-threatening bleeds. Patient/caregiver burden and diagnosis path have not been well characterized.

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY WAS TO

describe the diagnosis path, disease burden, and HFXD impact on quality of life (QoL) in patients and caregivers.This was a prospective, cross-sectional, web-based survey of patients with HFXD and caregivers addressing the patient/caregiver experience, QoL, humanistic and unmet needs.Thirty patients and 38 caregivers completed the survey with mean ages 24.7 and 44.6 years, respectively. Mean age at diagnosis was 4.1 years. The diagnostic process was somewhat/very difficult for 23% of patients and 26% of caregivers. Approximately half (53%) received single factor replacement (SFR) as prophylaxis or on-demand. Most patients (71%) reported regular prophylaxis treatment. Over one-fourth (27%) reported treatment with fresh frozen plasma. Bleeding episodes were less common in patients using SFR versus non-SFR: three bleeds or fewer were reported by 92% SFR and 75% non-SFR patients. HFXD patients reported low well being in work/school/social activities with mean HFXD-adapted Hemophilia Well being Index. Patient symptoms negatively impacted caregiver burden with a mean HFXD-adapted Hemophilia Caregiver Index (±SD) of 15.9 (4.6), but also unexpectedly had a positive impact on self-worth and inner strength.To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess patient and caregiver burden of HFXD and impact on QoL. Improvements in symptom recognition, prompt diagnosis, and adherence to expert recommendations for treatment could improve QoL and decrease burden on HFXD patients and caregivers.

Plasma-derived human factor X concentrate for the treatment of patients with hereditary factor X deficiency

INTRODUCTION

Hereditary factor X (FX) deficiency (HFXD) is an autosomal recessive rare bleeding disorder that leads to defects in the FX protein. Depending on the degree of deficiency, patients may be at risk of life-threatening bleeding episodes. Historical treatments for FX deficiency include prothrombin complex concentrates, which can increase the risk of thrombosis, and fresh frozen plasma, which can cause volume overload and transfusion reactions. Plasma-derived FX (pdFX), a single-factor, high-purity, high-potency human FX treatment, was approved in 2015 in the United States and in 2016 in Europe for on-demand treatment and prophylaxis of bleeding episodes and perioperative management of patients with HFXD.

METHODS

Five studies that examined the use of pdFX in patients with mild (plasma FX activity [FX:C] ≥5 IU/dL), moderate (FX:C ≥1 and <5 IU/dL), or severe (FX:C < 1 IU/dL) HFXD were reviewed: TEN01, TEN02 and TEN03 were prospective, open-label, multicentre, nonrandomised studies, and TEN05 and TEN06 were multicentre retrospective studies.

RESULTS

When used as an on-demand treatment, pdFX was judged by investigators to be successful in treating 41/42 (97.6%), 2/3 (66.6%) and 79/79 (100%) bleeds in TEN01, TEN02 and TEN05, respectively. When used prophylactically, pdFX was judged 'excellent' for the prevention of bleeds in nine (100%) and eight (100%) patients in TEN02 and TEN05, respectively. Perioperative treatment and pharmacokinetics were also assessed. pdFX was safe and well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these studies support the use of pdFX for on-demand treatment of bleeding, routine prophylaxis, and perioperative management of bleeding in patients with HFXD.

Postmortem diagnosis of severe factor X deficiency in a fetus with intracranial hemorrhage resulting in intrauterine death

In patients with severe congenital factor X deficiency, spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is particularly frequent in early childhood. We describe a case of fetal death at 26 weeks due to massive ICH. Gene panel analysis of postmortem samples revealed homozygosity for a pathologic F10 gene variant (c.1210T>C, p.Cys404Arg), which impedes correct folding of the catalytic serine protease domain and, therefore, causes a significant reduction in FX levels. The parents, not consanguineous but of the same ethnic community, were found to be heterozygous for this variant and did not have any personal or family history of abnormal bleeding. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of severe FX deficiency resulting in ICH diagnosed through postmortem genetic analysis. It illustrates the importance of exploring the etiology of fetal or neonatal ICH, which may impact future pregnancies, and the treatment of a potential coagulopathy in the child.