Breastfeeding does not influence the development of inhibitors in haemophilia

Haemophilia. 2002 Sep;8(5):657-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2516.2002.00655.x.

Abstract

Our aim was to test the hypothesis that breastfeeding may reduce development of inhibitors in male infants with haemophilia by inducing an oral immune tolerance to factor VIII. To achieve that goal, we performed a structured epidemiological survey comprising all males born with severe haemophilia A (in all 100 patients, 19 with inhibitors) or haemophilia B (in all 16 patients, six with inhibitors) in Sweden in 1980-99. Our results show no protective effect of breastfeeding.

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Blood Coagulation Factor Inhibitors / metabolism*
  • Breast Feeding*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Factor VIII / metabolism*
  • Hemophilia A / immunology*
  • Hemophilia B / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Sweden

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Blood Coagulation Factor Inhibitors
  • Factor VIII