What is the Therapy for Glanzmann Thrombasthenia and Its Cost?

Understanding Treatment Options and Financial Aspects of Managing Glanzmann Thrombasthenia

Living with Glanzmann Thrombasthenia poses struggles with life-threatening haemorrhages and bleeding issues, impacting daily lifestyle. Affected persons often face psychological strain and anxiety. Pla telet transfusion and recombinant factor VIIA offer promises to treat this rare bleeding disorder at Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 37,000 in India. Let's explore treatment options and the associated costs in India.  

What is the Therapy for Glanzmann Thrombasthenia?

Glanzmann Thrombasthenia is not a curable disease, but available treatment options can prevent excessive bleeding and manage symptoms.

1. Medications

As a first-line treatment option, the doctor prescribes medications to reduce blood clots. For example, antifibrinolytic medications can prevent the breakdown of blood clots and prevent persistent bleeding.

2. Platelet Transfusion

Platelet transfusion treats severe bleeding by controlling bleeding episodes before childbirth or a major procedure. Patients might receive healthy platelets during transfusion from the donor. However, platelet transfusion may be connected to alloimmunisation and lead to allergic reactions or refractoriness in future.

3. Recombinant Coagulation Factor VIIa

It is a medication involving a clotting agent for treating perioperative management and bleeding in children and adults. Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is used to manage bleeding in patients with Glanzmann Thrombasthenia who are refractory to platelet transfusions, by enhancing thrombin generation and promoting clot formation independent of platelet aggregation.

4. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT)

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is a curative solution for severe conditions. This treatment offers rapid engraftment and minimal time of neutropenia in people affected with severe Glanzmann Thrombasthenia. However, HSCT has some complications and may lead to alloimmunisation of platelets.    

How Much Does Glanzmann Thrombasthenia Therapy Cost?

Glanzmann Thrombasthenia therapy costs can fluctuate depending on the hospital stay, condition severity and type of treatment required for the patient. The table below highlights the cost breakdown of various types of treatments.  

Important Note: The mentioned treatment expenses are the average cost range, used to display a general idea. Take an opinion from a specialist and a chosen clinic to understand the accurate cost breakdown for treating Glanzmann Thrombasthenia.

What are the Complications of Glanzmann Thrombasthenia Treatment?

Around 20% to 30% of patients who have undergone platelet transfusions developed antibodies against transfused platelets. This condition causes ineffective transfusion and creates an urgency for alternative treatment, rfVIIa injection. The rfVIIa treatment option recalls the risk of blood clotting.    

Apart from this, stem cell transplantation is associated with the difficulty of finding a suitable donor to match the stem cells of the patient. Even after receiving a matched donor, this treatment can lead to a risk of rejecting the donated stem cell.

This rare bleeding disorder is not a curable disease, but treatments focus on lowering symptoms and excessive bleeding. Hospitals and clinics in India offer high-quality medical care and facilities for Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia.