Haemophilia and advanced fibrin sealant technologies.

Fibrin sealant, which consists mainly of fibrinogen and thrombin, provides rapid haemostasis as well as tissue sealing and adhesion. Commercial, viral-inactivated products are available in Europe, Canada, and Japan. Liquid fibrin sealant (LFS) has been used clinically in haemophiliacs to perform dental procedures, orthopedic surgeries, non-orthopaedic surgeries, and circumcisions. LFS use is expected to increase as commercial products will soon be available in the US. Recombinant sources and transgenic animal bioreactor systems will replace plasma-derived products and become the predominant sources for this product in the next decade. Other areas of innovation include the development of fibrin sealant bandages or dressings, expandable foams, and spray powders which will provide the haemophiliac the ability to rapidly attain control of traumatic haemorrhages prior to hospital treatment with a significant reduction in the use of i.v. clotting factors. Fibrin sealant products have the potential to provide life-saving control of haemorrhage, reduction in factor dependency, lower viral exposure risk, and medical care cost reduction.