Infection risk and stability of a continuous 8-h 250 mL rFVIII infusion

This study seeks to identify the delivery method of continuous infusion using a 250 cc IV bag via pump, change every 8 h. Additionally, the study will examine the infection risk with the use of 8 h infusions. Ten hemophilia A patients were identified for the study. Each patient received a bolus factorVIII (FVIII) infusion with a pre FVIII level and 1 h post FVIII level to determine recovery levels for optimal dosing. On the day of 8-h continuous infusion, the pt received a bolus VIII (Kogenate FS (™)) for correction to 100% followed by individually calculated continuous infusion (Kogenate FS (™)) FVIII. FVIII levels were drawn from the IV bag and peripherally from the patient in the opposite arm at time points: pre infusion, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 h. Additionally, blood cultures were drawn from the IV bag and from the IV tubing at time points pre infusion, 4 and 8 h. Fourteen subjects agreed to participate in the study; 4 failed to follow up, hence 10 subjects were included in the analysis of data; 7 severe, 2 moderate, and 1 mild hemophilia A. Age range was 26-62 years. Ethnic breakdown included 5 African American, 4 Caucasian, 1 Hispanic. With all infusions, the range of FVIII was 65-135% (blood) and 62-200% (bag). After the start of infusion, there were no significant differences noted between the hourly FVIII levels in the subjects and the IV values (P-value range 0.36-0.9). Additionally, given three time points with six cultures per patient, totaling 60 points of cultures drawn for the study, all cultures from the IV bag and patient were negative. The effective delivery method and safety of an 8-h continuous infusion of FVIII (Kogenate FS (™)) has been confirmed. This method can be helpful given that many hospitals may not carry the required mini-pumps, allowing a standard safe delivery of FVIII (Kogenate FS (™)) continuous infusion by available means.