Hemophilia and factor VII

2000/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna

Doctors have long known the protein called factor VIII. The protein is capable of stopping bleeding and is used for the treatment of hemophilia. Researchers have taken another step by discovering the atomic structure of this protein.

The finding has been made at the Seattle Cancer Research Center and a specific area of protein has been studied to detect circulatory problems in the blood and initiate the clotting process. Knowing the structure, the next step is knowing how the protein works. This could extend the field of possible applications of factor VIII, which can be used not only in the treatment of hemophilia, but also in the treatment of stroke and heart attacks. Researchers say that if the functioning of the protein is known, instead of causing blood clotting, they could synthesize derivatives that could cause an adverse effect. This would allow us to have fewer side effects on the market than the substances currently used to calm the blood.