December 13, 2011

Finally, the scientists were able to achieve success in the treatment of life-threatening blood disease   - Hemophilia Which is bad blood clotting .

"A group of British and American researchers was engaged in it Hemophilia B group Which is characterized by impaired development   squirrel   (Factor IX), which is responsible for the process   coagulation That is, blood clotting, "- said the portal ScienceDaily. The disease is caused by a recessive genetic mutation in X-chromosome So usually Groups B, as well as A, C, it is men who are ill. The only relief of the disease for these patients are injection   Factor IX several times a week, and the production of this factor is very expensive.

And up to this point, researchers have attempted for the treatment of hemophilia, they tried to do this by introducing a corrected copy of the gene, but these attempts were unsuccessful.

The essence of the new method is as follows: for the delivery of genetic material, which is necessary for the synthesis of factor IX, doctors used Adenovirus 8 . In one of the hospitals in the first tests showed good results: in the patients' blood levels of factor IX has increased to 12.2%, although before that he was not more than one percent. This Extension to a new level factors related to the fact that patients were inserted different doses: two from the bottom of received low-dose, two - the average, and two - high. In addition to high-level factors in patients who received the high dose of adenovirus 8, there was also a more lasting effect over the next year and a half. But one of the patients still need steroid therapy, albeit short-term. This occurred because of an immune response to the drug in the liver.

Outcome studies delighted doctors and patients: as a result four people managed to completely abandon the weekly injections of factor IX. In addition, all gone hard stopped and painful bleeding . Some of them now have the opportunity to play sports, although earlier it was contraindicated.

"We first have managed to achieve a lasting and positive impact in the production of blood factor is in its turn, gives us hope for a speedy treatment haemophilia A Which is more common, as well as other genetic diseases "- said Amit Natvani, author of the study and a doctor from College London.