What are on-demand treatment, prophylaxis and secondary prophylaxis ?
Historically, hemophilia patients were only treated when they had bleeding episodes. This is known as on-demand treatment. One of the main reasons on-demand treatment has been used is the high cost and limited supply of factor IX. However, it has become known that treating people who have severe hemophilia with frequent, periodic factor IX infusions can have significant medical and quality of life benefits. This type of treatment is called prophylactic treatment, prophylaxis or primary prophylaxis. Although prophylactic treatment uses more factor IX, some studies have shown that lifetime medical costs for prophylactic treatment may be equivalent, or sometimes even less, than for on-demand treatment. This is because the patient remains healthier, requiring less additional medical care and fewer hospitalizations. Prophylaxis, when started at an early age, is the only known treatment that can prevent the joint damage that otherwise afflicts most severe hemophilia patients. There is no sin
