Immune mechanisms involved in the development and eradication of anti-factor VIII alloantibodies in hemophilia

Abstract

Hemophilia A is an X-linked hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a congenital deficiency in blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Therapy to prevent or treat bleeding is replacement of FVIII. The most significant complication of treatment in patients with hemophilia A is the development of alloantibodies that inhibit FVIII activity, termed inhibitors. In the presence of inhibitors, replacement of the missing clotting factor with FVIII preparations becomes less effective. Once replacement therapy is ineffective, morbidity increases. It remains unsolved to prevent inhibitor formation. The only strategy is long-term administration of a large quantity of FVIII in an attempt to eradicate the inhibitors through immune tolerance. However, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the induction of tolerance. This review will focus on the current understanding of why inhibitors develop and can be eradicated. The development of inhibitors by intravenous infusions of FVIII without adjuvant poses an intriguing challenge to immunologists.