DDAVP vs. Exercise in Patients With Mild Hemophilia A

Individuals with mild hemophilia A (MHA) bleed infrequently but can in the setting of trauma which often is when participating in sports/exercise. Although both exercise and DDAVP (desmopressin) can raise Factor 8/Von Willebrand Factor (FVIII/VWF levels), it is not clear whether the pathophysiological mechanism is the same. Consequently it is not known if DDAVP and exercise would have additive effects in raising FVIII:C and VWF levels or if one would one negate the effect of the other. The aim of this 2 center (Sickkids and Columbus, Ohio), prospective, cross-over design study is to compare the impact of exercise vs. DDAVP on hemostasis in patients with MHA and also to investigate the impact of sequentially administering these interventions on their hemostatic indices.

Persons with mild hemophilia A (MHA) (defined as having a FVIII level of \>5% to ≈40%) bleed infrequently but can in the setting of trauma which can often is in the context of participating in sports/exercise. FVIII levels temporarily rise with stress, exercise and with DDAVP (1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin, desmopressin). In the case of DDAVP, the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Hemophilia Team and others have shown that FVIII and VWF levels rise by 2-4 fold with DDAVP. Consequently many persons with MHA in an attempt to reduce their risk of bleeding take intranasal (IN) DDAVP prior to sports activities/exercise. IN DDAVP is reasonably expensive ($300/bottle of Octostim® in Canada and $700/bottle of Stimate® in USA), requires fluid restriction, and may be associated with nausea, vomiting, seizures and tachyphylaxis.

Recently, our group completed a pilot/feasibility study to evaluate the impact of a prescribed, moderate intensity aerobic exercise regimen on hemostatic indices in 30 children with hemophilia A \[HA\] or B \[HB\] (all severities) and documented a significant improvement in multiple coagulation parameters (platelet count, FVIII:C and von Willebrand factor \[VWF\]) with exercise. This improvement was particularly pronounced in 13 post-adolescent males with mild-moderate HA. In this sub-cohort, we noted a mean 2.3 fold increase in FVIII:C immediately after exercise, which remained significantly elevated at 1.9 fold,1 hour after completion of exercise

These changes in hemostatic variables associated with aerobic exercise may be protective against bleeding, and may negate the need to administer IN DDAVP immediately prior to sports participation.

Although both exercise and DDAVP can raise FVIII/VWF levels, it is not clear whether the pathophysiological mechanism in which they do this is the same. Consequently it is not known if DDAVP and exercise would augment each other's effects in raising FVIII:C and VWF levels or if one would one negate the effect of the other. Herein, we propose a prospective, interventional study of exercise vs IN DDAVP in 40-50 post adolescent (13-21 yr) males with MHA to compare their impact on hemostasis and also to investigate the impact of sequentially administering these interventions on hemostatic indices.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients ≥13 years of age and ≤21 years of age with Mild Hemophilia A (MHA), with a historical baseline FVIII:C level of ≥5% to ≤40% followed at either the Hospital for Sick Children or St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto).
* Patients ≥13 years of age and ≤21 years of age with genetically confirmed Mild Hemophilia A (MHA), with FVIII:C level of ≥5% to ≤50% followed at either the Hospital for Sick Children or St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto).

Exclusion Criteria:

* A currently circulating or history of a previous inhibitor ( ≥0.5 BU) within the past 5 years. As inhibitor development in MHA is rare, it is not expected that any patient will be excluded for this reason.
* Any FVIII infusion or DDAVP use in the preceding week. This is to avoid an residual FVIII still being present in a patient who has taken an extended half-life FVIII.
* Co-existence of a congenital bleeding disorder other than MHA (e.g. VWD).
* Prior history of coronary artery disease or pulmonary disease, severe arthropathy interfering with ability to exercise.
* Patients on beta-blockers, anti-platelet agents or regular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (e.g. Celebrex).
* Patients with an active infectious or inflammatory condition. This includes HIV, active hepatitis B or C as reflected in elevated AST, ALT, RNA positivity for hepatitis B or C.
* Patients who are active (defined as smoking daily) smokers (cigarettes, marijuana). This exclusion is put into place as we do not know if daily smoking will impact on the hemostatic response to either exercise or DDAVP.
* Patients with limited exercise tolerance for any reason.
* Patients with a history of a recent bleed (in preceding 2 weeks) in any location, or a joint/muscle bleed in the lower limbs in the preceding 4 weeks.
* Patients who for medical reasons should not receive DDAVP \[those with renal or CNS disease (e.g. brain tumor)\] or have previously experienced adverse events with DDAVP (e.g. hypotensive event; seizure).