Abstract
Hemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked hereditary bleeding disorder caused by deficiency
of coagulation factor (F) VIII activity. One of the greatest complications in the
treatment of HA is the development of neutralizing alloantibodies, known as FVIII
inhibitors. HA patients who develop FVIII inhibitors have limited treatment options
available to them and experience greater disease- and treatment-related burdens than
HA patients without FVIII inhibitors. Emicizumab, a recently approved bispecific monoclonal
antibody, mimics the function of FVIIIa by bridging FIXa and FX to restore effective
hemostasis. Although emicizumab and FVIII show some functional similarities, several
key differences influence the results of standard laboratory assays when conducted
in the presence of emicizumab, and can result in a misleading interpretation of coagulation
assays in emicizumab-treated patients. Here, we discuss current laboratory monitoring
methods, including activated partial thromboplastin time, FVIII one-stage clotting
assays, FVIII chromogenic assays, and global coagulations assays; address why these
conventional methods may be inappropriate for monitoring of HA patients receiving
emicizumab; and suggest alternative methods applicable to monitoring HA treatment
in an evolving treatment landscape.
Keywords
hemophilia A - laboratory monitoring - FVIII activity - coagulation