Semin Thromb Hemost 2009; 35(8): 723-734
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1245105
© Thieme Medical Publishers

The Multifactorial Etiology of Inhibitor Development in Hemophilia: Genetics and Environment

Samantha C. Gouw1 , H. Marÿke van den Berg2 , 3
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • 3Meander Medical Center, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 February 2010 (online)

ABSTRACT

The most important complication in the treatment of hemophilia A patients today is the development of inhibitory antibodies against infused factor VIII (FVIII). Inhibitor development is caused by a complex interplay between both genetic and environmental factors. The risk of developing inhibitors is greatest in previously untreated patients with severe hemophilia A. Several genetic factors, such as a positive family history of inhibitors, ethnicity, FVIII genotype, and certain polymorphisms in immune modulatory genes, are associated with the risk of inhibitor development. Treatment-related factors, such as intensive treatment with FVIII for bleeds or surgery, are associated with a higher inhibitor risk. However, regular prophylaxis seems to have a protective effect on inhibitor development. Knowledge about the risk factors of inhibitor development is a condition for predicting and in the future possibly even preventing the development of inhibitors in patients with severe hemophilia A. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the potential risk factors of inhibitor development. At present, many uncertainties still remain that will require collaborative investigation.

REFERENCES

  • 1 White II G C, Rosendaal F, Aledort L M, Lusher J M, Rothschild C, Ingerslev J. Factor VIII and Factor IX Subcommittee . Definitions in hemophilia. Recommendation of the scientific subcommittee on factor VIII and factor IX of the scientific and standardization committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.  Thromb Haemost. 2001;  85(3) 560
  • 2 Plug I, Peters M, Mauser-Bunschoten E P et al.. Social participation of patients with hemophilia in the Netherlands.  Blood. 2008;  111(4) 1811-1815
  • 3 DiMichele D. Inhibitor development in haemophilia B: an orphan disease in need of attention.  Br J Haematol. 2007;  138(3) 305-315
  • 4 Wight J, Paisley S. The epidemiology of inhibitors in haemophilia A: a systematic review.  Haemophilia. 2003;  9(4) 418-435
  • 5 Kempton C L, Soucie J M, Abshire T C. Incidence of inhibitors in a cohort of 838 males with hemophilia A previously treated with factor VIII concentrates.  J Thromb Haemost. 2006;  4(12) 2576-2581
  • 6 Darby S C, Keeling D M, Spooner R J UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors' Organisation et al. The incidence of factor VIII and factor IX inhibitors in the hemophilia population of the UK and their effect on subsequent mortality, 1977–99.  J Thromb Haemost. 2004;  2(7) 1047-1054
  • 7 Morfini M, Haya S, Tagariello G et al.. European study on orthopaedic status of haemophilia patients with inhibitors.  Haemophilia. 2007;  13(5) 606-612
  • 8 Gringeri A, Mantovani L G, Scalone L, Mannucci P M. COCIS Study Group . Cost of care and quality of life for patients with hemophilia complicated by inhibitors: the COCIS Study Group.  Blood. 2003;  102(7) 2358-2363
  • 9 Wight J, Paisley S, Knight C. Immune tolerance induction in patients with haemophilia A with inhibitors: a systematic review.  Haemophilia. 2003;  9(4) 436-463
  • 10 Donfield S M, Lynn H S, Lail A E, Hoots W K, Berntorp E, Gomperts E D. for the Hemophilia Growth and Development Study Group . Delays in maturation among adolescents with hemophilia and a history of inhibitors.  Blood. 2007;  110(10) 3656-3661
  • 11 Kershaw G, Jayakodi D, Dunkley S. Laboratory identification of factor inhibitors: the perspective of a large tertiary hemophilia centre.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2009;  35(8) 760-768
  • 12 Verbruggen B, Novakova I, Wessels H, Boezeman J, van den Berg M, Mauser-Bunschoten E. The Nijmegen modification of the Bethesda assay for factor VIII:C inhibitors: improved specificity and reliability.  Thromb Haemost. 1995;  73(2) 247-251
  • 13 Peerschke E I, Castellone D D, Ledford-Kraemer M, Van Cott E M, Meijer P. NASCOLA Proficiency Testing Committee . Laboratory assessment of factor VIII inhibitor titer: the North American Specialized Coagulation Laboratory Association experience.  Am J Clin Pathol. 2009;  131(4) 552-558
  • 14 Schwaab R, Brackmann H H, Meyer C et al.. Haemophilia A: mutation type determines risk of inhibitor formation.  Thromb Haemost. 1995;  74(6) 1402-1406
  • 15 Goodeve A C, Williams I, Bray G L, Peake I R. Recombinate PUP Study Group . Relationship between factor VIII mutation type and inhibitor development in a cohort of previously untreated patients treated with recombinant factor VIII (Recombinate).  Thromb Haemost. 2000;  83(6) 844-848
  • 16 Astermark J, Oldenburg J, Escobar M, White II G C, Berntorp E. Malmö International Brother Study group . The Malmö International Brother Study (MIBS). Genetic defects and inhibitor development in siblings with severe hemophilia A.  Haematologica. 2005;  90(7) 924-931
  • 17 Vinciguerra C, Zawadzki C, Dargaud Y et al.. Characterisation of 96 mutations in 128 unrelated severe haemophilia A patients from France. Description of 62 novel mutations.  Thromb Haemost. 2006;  95(4) 593-599
  • 18 Tuddenham E G, McVey J H. The genetic basis of inhibitor development in haemophilia A.  Haemophilia. 1998;  4(4) 543-545
  • 19 Oldenburg J, Brackmann H H, Schwaab R. Risk factors for inhibitor development in hemophilia A.  Haematologica. 2000;  85(Suppl 10) 7-13 discussion 13-14
  • 20 Goodeve A C, Peake I R. The molecular basis of hemophilia A: genotype-phenotype relationships and inhibitor development.  Semin Thromb Hemost. 2003;  29(1) 23-30
  • 21 Oldenburg J, Schröder J, Schmitt C, Brackmann H H, Schwaab R. Small deletion/insertion mutations within poly-A runs of the factor VIII gene mitigate the severe haemophilia A phenotype.  Thromb Haemost. 1998;  79(2) 452-453
  • 22 Frommel D, Allain J P. Genetic predisposition to develop factor VIII antibody in classic hemophilia.  Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1977;  8(1) 34-38
  • 23 Shapiro S S. Genetic predisposition to inhibitor formation.  Prog Clin Biol Res. 1984;  150 45-55
  • 24 Astermark J, Berntorp E, White G C, Kroner B L. MIBS Study Group . The Malmö International Brother Study (MIBS): further support for genetic predisposition to inhibitor development in hemophilia patients.  Haemophilia. 2001;  7(3) 267-272
  • 25 Aledort L M, Dimichele D M. Inhibitors occur more frequently in African-American and Latino haemophiliacs.  Haemophilia. 1998;  4(1) 68
  • 26 Scharrer I, Bray G L, Neutzling O. Incidence of inhibitors in haemophilia A patients—a review of recent studies of recombinant and plasma-derived factor VIII concentrates.  Haemophilia. 1999;  5(3) 145-154
  • 27 Viel K R, Ameri A, Abshire T C et al.. Inhibitors of factor VIII in black patients with hemophilia.  N Engl J Med. 2009;  360(16) 1618-1627
  • 28 Hay C R, Ollier W, Pepper L UKHCDO Inhibitor Working Party et al. HLA class II profile: a weak determinant of factor VIII inhibitor development in severe haemophilia A.  Thromb Haemost. 1997;  77(2) 234-237
  • 29 Oldenburg J, Picard J K, Schwaab R, Brackmann H H, Tuddenham E G, Simpson E. HLA genotype of patients with severe haemophilia A due to intron 22 inversion with and without inhibitors of factor VIII.  Thromb Haemost. 1997;  77(2) 238-242
  • 30 Frommel D, Allain J P, Saint-Paul E et al.. HLA antigens and factor VIII antibody in classic hemophilia. European study group of factor VIII antibody.  Thromb Haemost. 1981;  46(4) 687-689
  • 31 Mayr W R, Lechner K, Niessner H, Pabinger-Fasching I. HLA-DR and factor VIII antibodies in hemophilia A.  Thromb Haemost. 1984;  51(2) 293
  • 32 Lippert L E, Fisher L M, Schook L B. Relationship of major histocompatibility complex class II genes to inhibitor antibody formation in hemophilia A.  Thromb Haemost. 1990;  64(4) 564-568
  • 33 Astermark J, Oldenburg J, Carlson J et al.. Polymorphisms in the TNFA gene and the risk of inhibitor development in patients with hemophilia A.  Blood. 2006;  108(12) 3739-3745
  • 34 Shapiro S S. Markers for the factor VIII antibody response in hemophilia A.  Scand J Haematol Suppl. 1984;  40 181-185
  • 35 Alper C A, Raum D D, Awdeh Z L, Shapiro S S, Yunis E J. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-linked complement alleles as markers for the development of anti-factor VIII in hemophiliacs.  Prog Clin Biol Res. 1984;  150 141-142
  • 36 Simonney N, De Bosch N, Argueyo A, Garcia E, Layrisse Z. HLA antigens in hemophiliacs A with or without factor VIII antibodies in a Venezuelan mestizo population.  Tissue Antigens. 1985;  25(4) 216-219
  • 37 Papasteriades C, Varla M, Economidou J et al.. High frequency of HLA-DR5 in Greek patients with haemophilia A and haemophilia B.  Tissue Antigens. 1986;  28(2) 84-87
  • 38 Aly A M, Aledort L M, Lee T D, Hoyer L W. Histocompatibility antigen patterns in haemophilic patients with factor VIII antibodies.  Br J Haematol. 1990;  76(2) 238-241
  • 39 Ohta H, Takahashi I, Kojima T et al.. Histocompatibility antigens and alleles in Japanese haemophilia A patients with or without factor VIII antibodies.  Tissue Antigens. 1999;  54(1) 91-97
  • 40 Wieland I, Wermes C, Eifrig B et al.. Inhibitor-Immunology-Study. Different HLA-types seem to be involved in the inhibitor development in haemophilia A.  Hamostaseologie. 2008;  28(suppl 1) S26-S28
  • 41 Ragni M V, Ojeifo O, Feng J et al.. Risk factors for inhibitor formation in haemophilia: a prevalent case-control study.  Haemophilia. 2009;  15(5) 1074-1082
  • 42 Astermark J, Oldenburg J, Pavlova A, Berntorp E, Lefvert A K. MIBS Study Group . Polymorphisms in the IL10 but not in the IL1beta and IL4 genes are associated with inhibitor development in patients with hemophilia A.  Blood. 2006;  107(8) 3167-3172
  • 43 Astermark J, Wang X, Oldenburg J, Berntorp E, Lefvert A K. MIBS Study Group . Polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 gene and inhibitor development in patients with severe hemophilia A.  J Thromb Haemost. 2007;  5(2) 263-265
  • 44 Berntorp E, Astermark J, Donfield S M Hemophilia Inhibitor Genetics Study et al. Haemophilia Inhibitor Genetics Study—evaluation of a model for studies of complex diseases using linkage and association methods.  Haemophilia. 2005;  11(4) 427-429
  • 45 Lorenzo J I, López A, Altisent C, Aznar J A. Incidence of factor VIII inhibitors in severe haemophilia: the importance of patient age.  Br J Haematol. 2001;  113(3) 600-603
  • 46 van der Bom J G, Mauser-Bunschoten E P, Fischer K, van den Berg H M. Age at first treatment and immune tolerance to factor VIII in severe hemophilia.  Thromb Haemost. 2003;  89(3) 475-479
  • 47 Chalmers E A, Brown S A, Keeling D Paediatric Working Party of UKHCDO et al. Early factor VIII exposure and subsequent inhibitor development in children with severe haemophilia A.  Haemophilia. 2007;  13(2) 149-155
  • 48 Santagostino E, Mancuso M E, Rocino A et al.. Environmental risk factors for inhibitor development in children with haemophilia A: a case-control study.  Br J Haematol. 2005;  130(3) 422-427
  • 49 Gouw S C, van den Berg H M, le Cessie S, van der Bom J G. Treatment characteristics and the risk of inhibitor development: a multicenter cohort study among previously untreated patients with severe hemophilia A.  J Thromb Haemost. 2007;  5(7) 1383-1390
  • 50 Gouw S C, van der Bom J G, Marijke van den Berg H. Treatment-related risk factors of inhibitor development in previously untreated patients with hemophilia A: the CANAL cohort study.  Blood. 2007;  109(11) 4648-4654
  • 51 Matzinger P. Tolerance, danger, and the extended family.  Annu Rev Immunol. 1994;  12 991-1045
  • 52 Morado M, Villar A, Jiménez Yuste V, Quintana M, Hernandez Navarro F. Prophylactic treatment effects on inhibitor risk: experience in one centre.  Haemophilia. 2005;  11(2) 79-83
  • 53 Hawiger D, Inaba K, Dorsett Y et al.. Dendritic cells induce peripheral T cell unresponsiveness under steady state conditions in vivo.  J Exp Med. 2001;  194(6) 769-779
  • 54 Rosendaal F R, Nieuwenhuis H K, van den Berg H M Dutch Hemophilia Study Group et al. A sudden increase in factor VIII inhibitor development in multitransfused hemophilia A patients in The Netherlands.  Blood. 1993;  81(8) 2180-2186
  • 55 Peerlinck K, Arnout J, Gilles J G, Saint-Remy J M, Vermylen J. A higher than expected incidence of factor VIII inhibitors in multitransfused haemophilia A patients treated with an intermediate purity pasteurized factor VIII concentrate.  Thromb Haemost. 1993;  69(2) 115-118
  • 56 Mauser-Bunschoten E P, Rosendaal F R, Nieuwenhuis H K, Roosendaal G, Briët E, van den Berg H M. Clinical course of factor VIII inhibitors developed after exposure to a pasteurised Dutch concentrate compared to classic inhibitors in hemophilia A.  Thromb Haemost. 1994;  71(6) 703-706
  • 57 Briët E, Rosendaal F R. Inhibitors in hemophilia A: are some products safer?.  Semin Hematol. 1994;  31(2, suppl 4) 11-15
  • 58 Scharrer I, Ehrlich H J. Reported inhibitor incidence in FVIII PUP studies: comparing apples with oranges?.  Haemophilia. 2004;  10(2) 197-198
  • 59 Ettingshausen C E, Kreuz W. Recombinant vs. plasma-derived products, especially those with intact VWF, regarding inhibitor development.  Haemophilia. 2006;  12(suppl 6) 102-106
  • 60 Kreuz W, Ettingshausen C E, Auerswald G, et al.. Epidemiology of inhibitors and current treatment strategies.  Haematologica. 2003;  88(6) EREP04
  • 61 Goudemand J, Rothschild C, Demiguel V FVIII-LFB and Recombinant FVIII study groups et al. Influence of the type of factor VIII concentrate on the incidence of factor VIII inhibitors in previously untreated patients with severe hemophilia A.  Blood. 2006;  107(1) 46-51
  • 62 Gouw S C, van der Bom J G, Auerswald G, Ettinghausen C E, Tedgård U, van den Berg H M. Recombinant versus plasma-derived factor VIII products and the development of inhibitors in previously untreated patients with severe hemophilia A: the CANAL cohort study.  Blood. 2007;  109(11) 4693-4697
  • 63 Suzuki T, Arai M, Amano K, Kagawa K, Fukutake K. Factor VIII inhibitor antibodies with C2 domain specificity are less inhibitory to factor VIII complexed with von Willebrand factor.  Thromb Haemost. 1996;  76(5) 749-754
  • 64 Jacquemin M G, Saint-Remy J M. Factor VIII immunogenicity.  Haemophilia. 1998;  4(4) 552-557
  • 65 Dasgupta S, Repessé Y, Bayry J et al.. VWF protects FVIII from endocytosis by dendritic cells and subsequent presentation to immune effectors.  Blood. 2007;  109(2) 610-612
  • 66 Wadhwa M, Dilger P, Tubbs J, Mire-Sluis A, Barrowcliffe T, Thorpe R. Identification of transforming growth factor-beta as a contaminant in factor VIII concentrates: a possible link with immunosuppressive effects in hemophiliacs.  Blood. 1994;  84(6) 2021-2030
  • 67 Hodge G, Han P. Effect of factor VIII concentrate on antigen-presenting cell (APC)/T-cell interactions in vitro: relevance to inhibitor formation and tolerance induction.  Br J Haematol. 2000;  109(1) 195-200
  • 68 Hodge G, Flower R, Han P. Effect of factor VIII concentrate on leucocyte cytokine production: characterization of TGF-beta as an immunomodulatory component in plasma-derived factor VIII concentrate.  Br J Haematol. 1999;  106(3) 784-791
  • 69 Peerlinck K, Arnout J, Di Giambattista M et al.. Factor VIII inhibitors in previously treated haemophilia A patients with a double virus-inactivated plasma derived factor VIII concentrate.  Thromb Haemost. 1997;  77(1) 80-86
  • 70 Raut S, Weller L, Barrowcliffe T W. Phospholipid binding of factor VIII in different therapeutic concentrates.  Br J Haematol. 1999;  107(2) 323-329
  • 71 Rosendaal F R. Factor VIII inhibitors on a DS-treated and pasteurized concentrate associated with specific batches and batch characteristics.  Thromb Haemost. 1997;  77 590 , Abstract OC-2407
  • 72 Mannucci P M, Gringeri A, Peyvandi F, Santagostino E. Factor VIII products and inhibitor development: the SIPPET study (survey of inhibitors in plasma-product exposed toddlers).  Haemophilia. 2007;  13(suppl 5) 65-68
  • 73 Baglin T, Beacham E. Is a change of factor VIII product a risk factor for the development of a factor VIII inhibitor?.  Thromb Haemost. 1998;  80(6) 1036-1037
  • 74 von Auer C, Oldenburg J, von Depka M et al.. Inhibitor development in patients with hemophilia A after continuous infusion of FVIII concentrates.  Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005;  1051 498-505
  • 75 Yee T T, Lee C A. Oral immune tolerance induction to factor VIII via breast milk, a possibility?.  Haemophilia. 2000;  6(5) 591
  • 76 Jansen I M, Fischer K, Van Der Bom J G, Van Den Berg H M. No protective effect of breastfeeding on inhibitor formation in severe hemophilia.  Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2005;  22(7) 575-580
  • 77 Knobe K E, Tengborn L I, Petrini P, Ljung R C. Breastfeeding does not influence the development of inhibitors in haemophilia.  Haemophilia. 2002;  8(5) 657-659
  • 78 McMillan C W, Shapiro S S, Whitehurst D, Hoyer L W, Rao A V, Lazerson J. The natural history of factor VIII:C inhibitors in patients with hemophilia A: a national cooperative study. II. Observations on the initial development of factor VIII:C inhibitors.  Blood. 1988;  71(2) 344-348
  • 79 Maclean P, Young D, Chalmers E. A case control study to examine treatment related factors in the development of inhibitors in haemophilia A.  Haemophilia. 2008;  14(Suppl 2) 44
  • 80 Oldenburg J, Schwaab R, Brackmann H H. Induction of immune tolerance in haemophilia A inhibitor patients by the ‘Bonn Protocol’: predictive parameter for therapy duration and outcome.  Vox Sang. 1999;  77(Suppl 1) 49-54
  • 81 Dimichele D M, Hay C R. The international immune tolerance study: a multicenter prospective randomized trial in progress.  J Thromb Haemost. 2006;  4(10) 2271-2273
  • 82 Peng A, Gaitonde P, Kosloski M P et al.. Effect of route of administration of human recombinant factor VIII on its immunogenicity in hemophilia A mice.  J Pharm Sci. 2009;  98(12) 4480-4484
  • 83 Ter Avest P C, Fischer K, Mancuso M E et al.. Risk stratification for inhibitor development at first treatment for severe hemophilia A: a tool for clinical practice.  J Thromb Haemost. 2008;  6(12) 2048-2054
  • 84 Kurnik K, Thomas A E. European Paediatric Network for Haemophilia Management (PedNet) . Meeting report: ninth and tenth workshops of the European Paediatric Network for Haemophilia Management (PedNet).  Haemophilia. 2007;  13(5) 658-662
  • 85 Reipert B M, Sasgary M, Ahmad R U, Auer W, Turecek P L, Schwarz H P. Blockade of CD40/CD40 ligand interactions prevents induction of factor VIII inhibitors in hemophilic mice but does not induce lasting immune tolerance.  Thromb Haemost. 2001;  86(6) 1345-1352
  • 86 Qian J, Collins M, Sharpe A H, Hoyer L W. Prevention and treatment of factor VIII inhibitors in murine hemophilia A.  Blood. 2000;  95(4) 1324-1329
  • 87 Peng B, Ye P, Blazar B R et al.. Transient blockade of the inducible costimulator pathway generates long-term tolerance to factor VIII after nonviral gene transfer into hemophilia A mice.  Blood. 2008;  112(5) 1662-1672
  • 88 Qadura M, Othman M, Waters B et al.. Reduction of the immune response to factor VIII mediated through tolerogenic factor VIII presentation by immature dendritic cells.  J Thromb Haemost. 2008;  6(12) 2095-2104
  • 89 Waters B, Qadura M, Burnett E et al.. Anti-CD3 prevents factor VIII inhibitor development in hemophilia A mice by a regulatory CD4 + CD25 + -dependent mechanism and by shifting cytokine production to favor a Th1 response.  Blood. 2009;  113(1) 193-203
  • 90 Lei T C, Scott D W. Induction of tolerance to factor VIII inhibitors by gene therapy with immunodominant A2 and C2 domains presented by B cells as Ig fusion proteins.  Blood. 2005;  105(12) 4865-4870
  • 91 Schellekens H. Immunogenicity of therapeutic proteins: clinical implications and future prospects.  Clin Ther. 2002;  24(11) 1720-1740, discussion 1719
  • 92 Dasgupta S, Navarrete A M, Bayry J et al.. A role for exposed mannosylations in presentation of human therapeutic self-proteins to CD4 + T lymphocytes.  Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007;  104(21) 8965-8970
  • 93 van den Berg H M, Chalmers E A. Clinical prediction models for inhibitor development in severe hemophilia A.  J Thromb Haemost. 2009;  7(Suppl 1) 98-102
  • 94 Hay C R, Ludlam C A, Colvin B T et al.. Factor VIII inhibitors in mild and moderate-severity haemophilia A. UK Haemophilia Centre Directors Organisation.  Thromb Haemost. 1998;  79(4) 762-766
  • 95 Kemball-Cook G, Tuddenham E G, Wacey A I. The factor VIII Structure and Mutation Resource Site: HAMSTeRS version 4.  Nucleic Acids Res. 1998;  26(1) 216-219
  • 96 D'Oiron R, Pipe S W, Jacquemin M. Mild/moderate haemophilia A: new insights into molecular mechanisms and inhibitor development.  Haemophilia. 2008;  14(Suppl 3) 138-146
  • 97 Sharathkumar A, Lillicrap D, Blanchette V S et al.. Intensive exposure to factor VIII is a risk factor for inhibitor development in mild hemophilia A.  J Thromb Haemost. 2003;  1(6) 1228-1236
  • 98 Eckhardt C L, Menke L A, van Ommen C H et al.. Intensive peri-operative use of factor VIII and the Arg593—>Cys mutation are risk factors for inhibitor development in mild/moderate hemophilia A.  J Thromb Haemost. 2009;  7(6) 930-937
  • 99 Belvini D, Salviato R, Radossi P AICE HB Study Group et al. Molecular genotyping of the Italian cohort of patients with hemophilia B.  Haematologica. 2005;  90(5) 635-642
  • 100 Chitlur M, Warrier I, Rajpurkar M, Lusher J M. Inhibitors in factor IX deficiency a report of the ISTH-SSC international FIX inhibitor registry (1997–2006).  Haemophilia. 2009;  15(5) 1027-1031
  • 101 Thorland E C, Drost J B, Lusher J M et al.. Anaphylactic response to factor IX replacement therapy in haemophilia B patients: complete gene deletions confer the highest risk.  Haemophilia. 1999;  5(2) 101-105
  • 102 Warrier I, Ewenstein B M, Koerper M A et al.. Factor IX inhibitors and anaphylaxis in hemophilia B.  J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 1997;  19(1) 23-27

Samantha C GouwM.D. 

Department of Pediatrics, University Medical Center Utrecht

PO Box 85090, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands

Email: s.c.gouw@umcutrecht.nl

    >