Kogenate FS Prevents Joint Damage in Young Hemophiliacs Hemophilia A affects about 15,000 in the U.S. Updated: 10/10/2008 6:00:30 PM Print Article Email Article           FRIDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Kogenate FS to help reduce bleeding episodes and prevent joint damage in children with hemophilia A, the most severe form of the disease. Hemophilia occurs when a protein that's needed for blood to clot is either deficient or missing entirely. Kogenate FS is a genetically engineered version of the deficient protein, known as factor VIII. The product was first licensed by the FDA in 1993 to control bleeding during or after surgery. Hemophilia A, which occurs almost exclusively in males, affects about 15,000 people in the United States, the agency said in a news release. When hemophiliacs are injured, they bleed longer than people without the disorder. When bleeding occurs in the muscles and joints of hemophiliacs, they are at increased risk of joint damage. The drug was clinically tested in 65 boys under 30 months of age with severe hemophilia A. Joint damage during a bleeding episode was sixfold lower, and the rate of bleeding was eightfold lower among boys who received the drug daily, compared with those who got the drug only during a bleeding episode, the agency said. More information To learn more about hemophilia, visit the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. -- Scott Roberts Copyright © 2008 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. Enter your ZIP code to compare the savings offered by the discount dental plans in your area. Take the first step toward a healthier smile and start saving today! > Find my dentist > Find a ZIP code             Additional Articles Exercise Tips to Keep Boomers on Their F... Living Healthily on Less On Memory, Older Americans Outsmart the ... New Weapons in Fight Against TB? Cell Pathway May Be Key to Lung Cancer's... Health Tip: Understanding Pre-Diabetes Health Tip: Wax Buildup May Cause Hearin... Put Safety First on the 4th Living Alone Increases Odds of Developin... Kids With Type 1 Diabetes Often Overweig... Cancer Endangers Some Wildlife Species Odd Behaviors on Ambien Linked to Brain ... Why Swine Flu Differs From Seasonal Flu C-Section Stress Could Alter Baby's Immu... Cystic Fibrosis Treatment May Cause Hear... Health Highlights: July 2, 2009 If 2 Painkillers Are Banned, What Next? New Drug Could Work Against Leukemia Multaq Sanctioned for Heart Rhythm Disor... Clinical Trials Update: July 2, 2009

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