Primary prophylaxis in children with severe haemophilia A and B-Implementation over the last 20 years as illustrated in real-world data in the PedNet cohorts.

Introduction: The prophylactic regimen in children with severe haemophilia is suggested in various publications and guidelines. Few data exist on its implementation in clinical practice.
Aim: To investigate the implementation of primary prophylaxis based on real-life data from PedNet during the last 20 years.
Methods: All children from the PedNet cohort (n = 1260) with severe haemophilia A (SHA) or severe haemophilia B (SHB), FVIII/IX < .01 IU/mL, born between 2000 and 2009 (Cohort I; SHA n = 662; SHB n = 88) and 2010-2019 (Cohort II; SHA n = 598; SHB n = 94) were included.
Results: In SHA, the median age at start of prophylaxis was 17.3 months (IQR; 12.5-26.1) in Cohort I which decreased to 13.1 months (IQR; 10.4-19.1) in Cohort II (p < .000). "Once-a-week" prophylaxis at start increased from 49% to 68% (SHA) and 38% to 70% (SHB). FVIII doses were reduced from median 43.5 (IQR; 34.6-49.0) to 30.9 IU/kg (IQR; 26.3-46.3), while dosing with FIX did not change. After 2010 approximately 60% of the patients with SHA and SHB started prophylaxis before any joint bleed. The number of CVADs needed in both cohorts was around 30%. Incidences of inhibitors were unchanged: SHA (∼31%) and SHB (∼10%). Sporadic cases were diagnosed significantly later (median 8.3 months; IQR; 3.7-11.9) and they had more joint bleeds before start of prophylaxis.
Conclusion: Primary prophylaxis nowadays starts at an earlier age: before any joint bleed (60% of patients with SHA and SHB). Approximately 70% started on a once-weekly schedule with significantly reduced doses in SHA but unchanged in SHB.
(© 2022 The Authors. Haemophilia published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)