Successful second ITI with factor IX and combined immunosuppressive therapy. A patient with severe haemophilia B and recurrence of a factor IX inhibitor

Factor IX antibodies and tolerance in hemophilia B in the Nordic countries - The impact of F9 variants and complications

INTRODUCTION

The development of inhibitory antibodies (inhibitors) in persons with hemophilia B (PwHB) causes significant morbidity. Data on the impact of the F9 variant and immune tolerance induction (ITI) outcome are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies (NNA) in severe hemophilia B (HB) and to evaluate ITI outcome and complications in relation to the pathogenic F9 variant.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Persons with severe HB in the Nordic countries were enrolled and information on F9 variants, inhibitors, ITI and complications were collected. Analyses of anti-FIX antibodies with a fluorescence-immunoassay (xFLI) and an ELISA method were conducted.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine PwHB were enrolled. Null variants were seen in 33 (42 %) PwHB and 12 (15 %) had a current or former inhibitor. Eleven (92 %) of the inhibitor patients had experienced allergic manifestations and three (25 %) nephrotic syndrome. Of 10 PwHB with at least one ITI attempt, eight (80 %) were considered tolerant at enrolment. Immunosuppression was included in seven of eight successful or partially successful attempts. Five PwHB had at least one ITI failure before a successful or partially successful ITI. No NNA could be identified.

CONCLUSION

A high proportion of severe F9 gene defects among persons with severe HB in the Nordic countries may explain the observed relatively high prevalence of inhibitors. ITI success was independent of the F9 variant and attained despite allergic manifestations and previous ITI failures. Inclusion of immunosuppression tentatively enhances the chances of ITI success. No NNA were observed.

Inhibitors in haemophilia A and B: Management of bleeds, inhibitor eradication and strategies for difficult-to-treat patients

The standard therapy for patients with haemophilia is prophylactic treatment with replacement factor VIII (FVIII) or factor IX (FIX). Patients who develop inhibitors against FVIII/FIX face an increased risk of bleeding, and the likelihood of early development of progressive arthropathy, alongside higher treatment-related costs. Bypassing agents can be used to prevent and control bleeding, as well as the recently licensed prophylaxis, emicizumab, but their efficacy is less predictable than that of factor replacement therapy. Antibody eradication, by way of immune tolerance induction (ITI), is still the preferred management strategy for treating patients with inhibitors. This approach is successful in most patients, but some are difficult to tolerise and/or are unresponsive to ITI, and they represent the most complicated patients to treat. However, there are limited clinical data and guidelines available to help guide physicians in formulating the next treatment steps in these patients. This review summarises currently available treatment options for patients with inhibitors, focussing on ITI regimens and those ITI strategies that may be used in difficult-to-treat patients. Some alternative, non-ITI approaches for inhibitor management, are also proposed.

[Immune tolerance induction in a case of hemophilia B with inhibitor with prothrombin complex concentrate and rituximab]

Objective: To explore the immune tolerance induction (ITI) in a case of severe hemophilia B patient with inhibitor. Methods: The F Ⅸ∶C was detected using a one-stage method and FIX inhibitor was assayed using Bethesda method. ITI was performed with prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) in combination with rituximab. Results: His past exposure days (ED) with PCC were 20 ED and his peak FⅨ inhibitor titer was 56 BU/ml. When his FIX inhibitor titer decreased to 10.4 BU/ml in Nov. 2015 and after receiving the informed consent from his parents, ITI was started. PCC with low dose rituximab successfully eradicated the high titer inhibitor within 17 months. There was no anaphylaxis, thrombotic event and infection. Conclusion: This is the first case report for successful immune tolerance induction therapy in Chinese hemophilia B patient. ITI using PCC combined with rituximab is an effective choice to induce immune tolerance of hemophilia B with inhibitor.