Pennsylvania state-wide hemophilia program: summary of immediate reactions with the use of factor VIII and factor IX concentrate.

S INCE September, 1977, the Pennsylvania statewide hemophilia centers have recorded data concerning immediate reactions occurring after administration ofcommercial factor VIII and factor IX concentrates. This communication reports the frequencies and types of the immediate reactions caused by these concentrates. Generally, there were two broad types of immediate reactions (Table 1 ): allergic and nonspecific. The allergic reaction usually consisted of one or more of the following signs or symptoms: excessive lacrimation, periorbital edema, generalized warm sensation, rhinitis, and urticaria. The nonspecific reactions consisted of variable subjective complaints such as dizziness, “coldness in the back of the throat,” headache, and shortness of breath. All reactions occurred either during