Hemophilia B Treatment
Hemophilia B Treatment

Exploring treatment options for hemophilia B

The most common treatment for hemophilia B is called replacement therapy.1 Concentrates of clotting factor IX are the foundation of this treatment for hemophilia B and are administered as an infusion to help replace the clotting factor that's missing or low in the blood.1

  • For hemophilia B patients, most preventive treatment, or prophylaxis treatment, involves infusions every three days or twice a week2
  • The general goal of prophylaxis treatment is to maintain the factor level above 1%2

You can do both prophylactic (ongoing) and on-demand (as-needed) replacement therapy at home. Many people learn to do the infusions at home for their child or for themselves. Home treatment has several advantages1:

  • Treatment is given more quickly when bleeding happens. Early treatment lowers the risk of complications1
  • Fewer visits to the healthcare provider (HCP) or emergency room are needed. Home treatment costs less than treatment in a medical care setting1
  • Home treatment helps children accept treatment and take responsibility for their own health1

Today, clotting factor IX concentrates can be made without human plasma.1 These types of infusions are called recombinant clotting factors.1

When you have a bleeding disorder, certain proteins in the blood, called clotting factors, may not be functioning right or there may not be enough of them for you to clot normally. An infused treatment temporarily adds fully functional factor to help your blood clot.

In the past 25+ years, significant advances have been made in the manufacturing of these recombinant clotting factors.3 Recombinant technology has helped produce factor concentrates that avoid the risk of human-viral contamination.3

The Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (MASAC) of the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) encourages the use of recombinant clotting factor products.4 Your HCP or your Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) will help you decide which is right for you.

Want to learn more about hemophilia B treatment?

Tracking your bleeds and treatment

You can help your HCP tailor your treatment to your specific needs by keeping track of your bleeds, physical activity, and infusions.5

“Factor treatment has to be personalized to your lifestyle.“ — Ryan, adult living with hemophilia

Infusion Resource

Learn more about home infusion or self-infusion of factor replacement.

Download overview

There's help for inhibitors, too

You're not alone. More than 30% of hemophilia patients face inhibitors to their treatment.

Learn more

Do you know where your HTC is?

Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) provide a range of education and support services.

Find yours
  1. Hemophilia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/hemophilia. Accessed August 20, 2019.
  2. FAQs about hemophilia B. The Coalition for Hemophilia B website.https://www.hemob.org/. Accessed August 20, 2019.
  3. Treatment of hemophilia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hemophilia/treatment.html. Reviewed March 11, 2019. Accessed August 20, 2019.
  4. Hemophilia B. National Hemophilia Foundation website. https://www.hemophilia.org/Bleeding-Disorders/Types-of-Bleeding-Disorders/Hemophilia-B. Accessed August 20, 2019.
  5. Metcalf E. Manage hemophilia with a personal health record. HemAware website.https://hemaware.org/bleeding-disorders-z/manage-hemophilia-personal-health-record. Published May 1, 2010. Accessed August 20, 2019.