Coagulation Factor VIII: pharmacoeconomic evaluation and quality of life as measuring tools in clinical practice

Hemophilia A is an inherited, X-linked, recessive disorder caused by deficiency of functional plasma clotting factor VIII (FVIII). The disease, which has an incidence of 1 in 6000 male births, can be defined as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the level of FVIII deficiency. The therapy relies upon the occasional administration of the deficient factor in the case of bleeding ("on demand" treatment), or regular factor VIII administration in order to prevent bleedings (“prophylaxis”). It seems likely that primary prophylaxis, initially more expensive, after some years improves the Quality of Life of patients; in the long distance primary prophylaxis might result a cost-effective strategy due to a significant reduction of hemophilia-related comorbidities. Therefore, primary prophylaxis in Hemophiliacs might exert even a reduction of the economic impact on regional health costs.