Pulmonary function in hemophiliac patients treated with commercial factor VIII concentrates

Pulmonary function was tested before and after the administration of a commercial preparation of factor VIII concentrate in 20 patients with hemophilia A. The material was infused through the filter provided by the manufacturer, which is supposed to remove particles larger than 170 mu. Baseline information showed that patients who smoke had a lower pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide than nonsmokers (22.9 +/- 4.2 ml/minute/mm Hg, p less than 0.01). The administration of factor VIII was not associated with clinical abnormalities. There was a small reduction in carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (27 +/- 5.8 to 26.2 +/- 5.9 ml/minute/mm Hg, p = 0.03), which was no longer significant after carbon monoxide diffusing capacity was corrected for lung volume (5.66 +/- 1.32 to 5.54 +/- 1.34, p greater than 0.06). This study does not support the need for 40 mu filtration of factor VIII concentrate.