Emicizumab in tolerized patients with hemophilia A with inhibitors: A single-institution pediatric cohort assessing inhibitor status.
Glaivy BatsuliAmanda GreeneShannon L MeeksRobert F SidonioPublished in: Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis (2021)
Seven successfully tolerized and five partially tolerized patients were identified. Three patients continued intermittent FVIII infusions on emicizumab at 50-70 IU/kg twice weekly, once weekly, or every other week due to concerns for inhibitor relapse or loss of recent FVIII tolerance by the treating provider. Eleven of 12 patients (92%) maintained negative inhibitor titers at a mean follow-up of 14.2 ± 6.1 months. One individual had an inhibitor relapse with a peak titer of 2.5 BU/mL. Five of the 11 patients (45%) with negative inhibitor titers had detectable nonneutralizing anti-FVIII IgG4 antibodies, but none of the patients had detectable IgG1 antibodies. There were no inhibitor recurrences in a subset of six patients after FVIII re-exposure for bleeding events or surgery. Given that the presence of an inhibitor significantly impacts factor product choice for bleeding management, ongoing inhibitor monitoring in tolerized patients with hemophilia A who transition to emicizumab is strongly recommended.