Benefits of danazol treatment in patients with hemophilia A (classic hemophilia)

H. R. Gralnick, P. Maisonneuve, Y. Sultan and M. E. Rick

Danazol, an attenuated androgen, was given intermittently in three patients with hemophilia A. The rise in factor VIII activity with danazol treatment was associated with a fivefold decrease in hemorrhagic episodes and plasma concentrate product utilization when compared with similar periods without the drug. Four other patients with moderate hemophilia A who received danazol for 14 days had an increase of 400% to 850% in their factor VIII levels. Of four patients without detectable levels of factor VIII who were treated with danazol, two had elevations of the factor VIII level, to 3% and 4%, respectively. Danazol appears to be an effective treatment for patients with hemophilia A.