Hemophilia Center - University Hospital Saarland Homburg

About the Hemophilia Center at University Hospital Saarland Homburg

The Hemophilia Center at the University Hospital Saarland Homburg offers the full range of services in its area of ​​specialization. The key focus of the center's clinical practice is hemophilia treatment. The center has the status of one of the few highly specialized medical facilities of this kind in all of Europe, where doctors have invaluable experience in the treatment of this rare and severe hereditary blood disease. The Hemophilia Center started its activities in the 1970s and is rapidly developing today. The doctors at the center have unique experience and deep knowledge in the diagnostics and treatment of hemophilia A and B. Medical care is provided to patients of all age groups. Physicians from related medical fields are often involved in the therapeutic process, including general practitioners, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, radiologists, orthopedists, and others. The center admits patients both on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The doctors working at the center have all the options of modern medicine to help patients with hemophilia of varying severity. The center is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Hermann Eichler.

Hemophilia is a disease that occurs due to a congenital deficiency of coagulation factors VIII (hemophilia A) or IX (hemophilia B). This phenomenon is caused by an X chromosome anomaly. The frequency and severity of the bleeding that develops due to hemophilia determine the degree of coagulation factor deficiency. As a rule, the disease affects only boys and men. At the moment, hemophilia still remains an incurable pathology, but the center offers modern treatment methods that can significantly improve the health of patients and their quality of life.

The primary goal of hemophilia treatment is effective hemostasis and prevention of hemorrhagic complications. The main type of therapy, especially for severe forms of the disease, is the treatment with intravenous coagulation factors medications. The dosage and frequency of administration of coagulation factors is determined for each patient individually, based on their clinical data. At the same time, the specialists of the center conditionally divide the therapy into the following two forms: the urgent administration of coagulation factors when a patient has bleeding and the planned administration of these substances to prevent the development of bleeding. When using a preventive treatment regimen, the patient receives treatment with coagulation factors 2-3 times a week for a long period of time.

The best results of preventive treatment can be achieved when the patient is able to self-administer injections of coagulation factors. The center, therefore, carries out special training programs for patients. During the training, patients learn how to perform injections on their own under the guidance of a doctor and also receive information on the proper storage and preparation of blood coagulation factors before injection. An integral part of the self-treatment program is regular visits to the center to control treatment outcomes.

As for inpatient treatment when a patient develops bleeding, it is carried out directly in the center under close medical supervision. It should be noted that the production of coagulation factors is strictly controlled here, including through the use of innovative technologies in the field of laboratory diagnostics, which make it possible to detect viral diseases (especially HIV and hepatitis B and C) at early stages, thereby guaranteeing maximum protection against infection.

The service range in the field of hemophilia treatment is complemented by genetic counseling, care for pregnant women, psychotherapy, and psychological assistance to patients.

As the Maximum Care Center, the medical facility also specializes in the diagnostics and treatment of other bleeding disorders, the most common of which is von Willebrand Jurgens syndrome. This pathology affects both men and women. The clinical picture of von Willebrand Jurgens syndrome is very similar to hemophilia. Therefore, having rich experience in the treatment of this pathology, the doctors of the center carry out differentiated diagnostics of blood clotting disorders. The acquired forms of von Willebrand Jurgens syndrome may occur with rheumatic diseases, heart valve disease, or other pathologies, while rare congenital coagulation disorders can be caused by factor VII, factor V, or factor XI deficiency.

The department's main clinical activities are as follows:

• Diagnostic options
  • Primary diagnostics of hemophilia A and B with blood tests and assessment of VIII and IX factor levels
  • Differential diagnostics with von Willebrand factor activity assay and other laboratory tests
• Therapeutic options
  • Immediate administration of coagulation factors when a patient has bleeding
  • Continuous planned administration of coagulation factors to prevent bleeding
• Other medical services