Anti-Fviii Antibodies: Characteristics, Mechanisms Of Action And Methods Of Detection

The development of anti-factor VIII antibodies (Abs) is currently one of the most serious complications in the treatment of haemophilia A patients. Improved prevention and eradication of these anti-FVIII Abs remain a challenge for both clinicians and scientists. Numerous studies in literature report on their epitope specificity, their mechanism of FVIII inactivation, as well as methods for their detection. This review attempts to sum up current knowledge of the nature (isotypes, kinetic properties) and epitopic properties of anti-FVIII antibodies, their mechanism of action. Methods for detection and epitopic characterization of inhibitors are also described. In the final part, a novel method susceptible to facilitate the monitoring of changes in the epitope specificity of inhibitors is presented.