Letter: Death in hemophiliacs

To the Editor.— Approximately five years ago (214:1707, 1970), we reviewed the causes of death in hemophiliacs who had been examined here. This was before many of the recent improvements in therapy, which include the use of potent coagulationfactor concentrates prepared from pooled plasma on an early or regular basis—usually at home, extensive patient education, and the dissemination of information to the medical community. A further review of causes and ages at death should prove an indicator of the success of the new therapeutic programs. In the last 20 years, 378 hemophiliacs have been studied here. Attempts have been made to trace all of those not currently active (93 of 272) or known to be dead (65). Of 41 deaths, 15 occurred in University hospitals, 13 in area hospitals, seven in out-of-state hospitals, and six at home. Satisfactory information was obtained for all except five of the six who died