The OSUCCC – James leads some of the world’s most advanced, sophisticated clinical trials for blood disorders.
The nationally renowned subspecialists at the OSUCCC – James understand that blood disorders like hemophilia are highly complex.
Because of that understanding, the most effective means of treating patients come from an expert team approach from across multiple medical disciplines. These teams run groundbreaking studies, and through detailed observations, evaluate the latest treatments and targeted therapies.
Our team of experts analyzes the genetic composition of each individual’s type of blood disorder to determine the best possible treatment, offering improved outcomes, faster responses and fewer side effects.
Treatment Options
The nationally recognized experts at the OSUCCC – James believe the best way to treat patients and manage their disease successfully is to be at the forefront of delivering the latest, most effective treatments available and by working with nationally and internationally renowned experts to develop the very best hemophilia treatments and programs.
Hemophilia treatments are based on the type and severity of each patient’s individual disease. Treatments can include:
Replacement Therapy
Replacement therapy is the primary treatment for both Hemophilia A and Hemophilia B. The treatment replaces the missing protein called blood-clotting factors in the blood by slowly injecting the protein into a vein.
When a patient regularly receives replacement therapy to prevent bleeding, it’s called preventative or prophylactic therapy.
Demand Therapy
Demand therapy is a treatment used on an as-needed basis, and blood-clotting factors are given to stop bleeding when it happens.
Demand therapy is less intensive and expensive than preventative therapy but the risk is greater that bleeding may cause damage before you receive demand therapy in time.
Desmopressin
For patients with mild Hemophilia A, a drug called desmopressin (DDAVP) may be given either by injection or as a nasal spray.
Desmopressin is a man-made hormone that causes the body to release stored blood-clotting factors. It can also increase the level of von Willebrand factor, which is a protein that carries and binds certain clotting factors.
This medicine has a temporary effect, and it is only used in specific situations, such as before dental treatment to prevent or reduce bleeding.
Antifibrinolytic Medicines
Antifibrinolytic medicines help keep blood clots from dissolving or breaking down too quickly. These medicines are usually taken orally, and they may be used as an additional treatment along with replacement therapy.
Treatment of a Specific Bleeding Site
If a patient’s joints are affected because of internal bleeding, the OSUCCC – James experts may prescribe certain pain medicines, steroids and physical therapy to help reduce pain and swelling.
(Source: National Institutes of Health)
Hemophilia Research and Clinical Trials
For blood disorder patients, clinical trials mean hope.
The OSUCCC – James has more than 500 open clinical trials at any given time, with some of the world’s latest discoveries available to clinical trial patients right here in Columbus, Ohio. In fact, patients have access to more of this nation’s leading-edge, targeted treatments and drugs than at most hospitals in America.
Who Should Participate in a Clinical Trial?
Patients can enter clinical trials before, during or after starting their individual treatments.
The OSUCCC – James is one of only a few U.S. cancer centers funded by the National Cancer Institute to conduct phase I and phase II clinical trials on novel anticancer drugs. These trials go only to centers that demonstrate an exemplary capacity for research and clinical care, the expertise to deliver the latest in treatments and the infrastructure to interpret and track treatment results.
If you’ve been diagnosed with hemophilia or another blood disorder, would like a second opinion, would like more information on available clinical trials or would like to speak with a blood disorder specialist, please call The James Line at 800-293-5066 or 614-293-5066 to make an appointment