What is an inhibitor?

"Inhibitors are complex, costly health problems that can affect people withhemophilia and von Willebrand disease (VWD) type 3. This Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month, learn about inhibitors and read Anthony’s story on living a full life with an inhibitor.

About Inhibitors

All people with hemophilia and VWD type 3 are at risk for developing an inhibitor – an antibody – to treatment used to stop or to prevent a bleeding episode.

Hemophilia and VWD type 3 are bleeding disorders in which the blood does not clot due to missing or low levels of proteins, known as ‘clotting factors,’ in the blood. People with hemophilia and VWD type 3 receive treatment products called ‘clotting factor concentrates’ to replace missing or low blood clotting factor in their blood. This procedure (known as infusion) is carried out by injecting commercially prepared clotting factor concentrates into their vein.

When a person develops an inhibitor, the body thinks that the clotting factor concentrates are harmful, foreign substances and rejects the clotting factor concentrates as treatment. Instead, the body tries to destroy the clotting factor concentrates with an inhibitor to protect the body, which makes it harder to treat a bleeding episode..."
Inhibitors