What is ITI?

Immune tolerance induction, or ITI, is a treatment method to get rid of inhibitors in people with hemophilia. It does not work for everyone. ITI makes the body used to factor. With ITI, repeated doses of Factor VIII or IX are infused over time. ITI is done even when there is no active bleeding.

The process of ITI is done over and over again. The goal is to make the immune system stop making inhibitors.

ITI is complex. It takes a lot of work. You will work with your hemophilia treatment center (HTC) to make a plan.


ITI is like getting allergy shots

An allergy is the immune system's response to something unknown. Allergies affect the immune system just like inhibitors. Sometimes people can get rid of allergies with allergy shots. Both ITI and allergy shots give repeated doses of the "allergic" substance over time. This makes the immune system used to it. If allergy shots work, the patient will have allergies that are less severe, or none at all.