Acquired hemophilia A caused by factor VIII inhibitors: report of a case

Repeated bleeding caused by acquired hemophilia A after endoscopic submucosal dissection: A case report and literature review

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been widely used in the treatment of gastrointestinal tract lesions, and hemorrhage is one of the most common complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of hemorrhage after ESD in patients with acquired hemophilia A (AHA). Firstly, a case of AHA with multiple bleeding events after ESD is reported. Colonoscopy was used to perform ESD treatment of the submucosal tumor, and immunohistochemical analysis was used to analyze the tumor properties. Secondly, literature relevant to postoperative hemorrhage caused by AHA was researched and analyzed, with the changes in activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) before and after operation, coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) activity, FVIII inhibitor value and treatment plan noted. The majority of patients with AHA had no history of coagulation disorder or genetic disease and showed a normal APTT. However, it was found that the APTT value gradually increased after bleeding. In addition, the APTT correction test did not correct for prolonged APTT and FVIII antibody positivity in AHA. There was no bleeding or bleeding tendency prior to surgery in patients with AHA. The study concludes that when repeated bleeding and a poor hemostatic effect occurs, it is necessary to be alerted to the possibility of AHA, as an early diagnosis is essential for effective hemostasis.

Dramatic decreases of all haemorrhagic coagulation factors by acquired inhibitors after extended left lobectomy

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Required inhibitors of all coagulation factors.

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After liver resection.

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Severe bleeding.

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Benefits of using steroid.

Introduction

Acquired inhibition of coagulation factors is a rare disease, and the diagnosis is often difficult and delayed. We experienced a deficiency in all coagulation factors after hepatobiliary surgery.

Case Presentation

Extended left liver resection was undertaken and hepaticojejunostomy was performed in a 70-year-old man. He had suffered from a high fever caused by cholangitis for 35 days. The major cause was a narrowing of the hepaticojejunostomy, and reconstruction was carried out. Twenty-four days later, there was a sudden massive bleed from his nose and the surgical site. Steroid pulse therapy was used as a treatment because cross mixing and some blood tests revealed the patient was experiencing an inhibition of all coagulation factors, and consequently the levels of coagulation factors dramatically recovered.

Discussion

We considered malignancy and surgical damages to be the underlying cause. The reported treatment and examination will help clinicians explore additional reasons for massive bleeding after a severe physical injury.

Conclusion

We have described the first case of acquired inhibition of all coagulation factors associated with extended left lobectomy.

Acquired haemophilia in cancer: A systematic and critical literature review

AIM

There is a paucity of data on the clinical presentation and management of cancer patients with acquired haemophilia (AH), we here report a systematic literature review on acquired haemophilia in the context of cancer.

METHODS

Treatment outcomes of AH were defined as complete response (CR), partial response (PR) or no response (NR), based on inhibitor eradication, coagulation factor VIII levels and bleeding control. Reported deaths were either related to cancer or bleeding.

RESULTS

Overall, 105 cases were collected and analyzed according to classification of cancer and efficacy of treatments for inhibitor and malignancy. The mean age was 68 years for both males (range 37-86 years) and females (range 43-89 years), 39 patients were female subjects and 66 were males. A solid cancer was diagnosed in 60 subjects, while 45 patients suffered a haematological malignancy. Solid cancers affected mainly males; however, the incidence of solid tumours vs haematological malignancies was not statistically significant (P = .09). Not all patients were treated for their underlying cancer, bleeding and/or inhibitor, in two cases outcome is unavailable. CR was reported in 62.1% (64/103) cases, PR in 9.7% (10/103) cases, NR with or without death was reported in 28.1% (29/103) cases.

CONCLUSION

CR was best achieved when successful and complete elimination of autoantibodies occurred contemporaneously with the successful treatment of the underlying malignancy. In some cases, recurrent autoantibodies were harbingers of relapsed cancer. Type of cancer, inhibitor titer, treatments administered for bleeding control and inhibitor eradication did not significantly affect clinical outcome of analyzed cases.

Acquired haemophilia A: an unusual postoperative complication

An African-American man aged 65 years with multiple malignancies in remission was admitted for small bowel obstruction. He was treated with laparotomy following failure of conservative management. Postoperatively, he developed intra-abdominal bleed, which persisted, despite surgical haematoma evacuation. Further haematological workup revealed isolated prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) with reduced factor VIII (FVIII) activity and raised FVIII inhibitor titre. Assuming acquired haemophilia A (AHA), FVIII inhibitor bypassing activity and corticosteroids were started with subsequent resolution of the bleeding from the surgical site. The patient remained free of bleeding episodes at 3-month follow-up and the aPTT normalised. This case report highlights the association of surgery with AHA and summarises the treatments with underlying mechanisms.

"The Immune Conundrum": Acquired Hemophilia A, Immune Thrombocytopenia, and Neutropenia in a Patient with Pancreatic Cancer

Background: Malignancy-associated bleeding can pose diagnostic dilemmas. We report a unique case of paraneoplastic acquired hemophilia A (AHA), immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and immune neutropenia in a patient with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Case Presentation: A 66-year-old male with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer and normal preoperative hematological evaluation was taken to the operating room for pancreaticoduodenectomy. The operation was aborted due to empyema of the gall bladder, cholangitis, and local extent of disease. Postoperatively, the patient developed bleeding diatheses with mucocutaneous and intra-abdominal bleeding and a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. Evaluation revealed high-titer factor VIII inhibitor confirming AHA. Management with bypassing agents such as recombinant activated factor VII, factor VIII inhibitor bypassing activity, and immunosuppression with steroids, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab achieved remission in 2 months. ITP developed after achieving normal factor VIII levels, which was managed with intravenous immunoglobulin. Neutropenia was detected before initiation of chemotherapy and was managed with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. Conclusion: These unique challenges posed by paraneoplastic hematological syndromes warrant the need for astute clinical judgment and multidisciplinary collaboration for effective management.

A case of acquired hemophilia A diagnosed after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

A 65-year-old male with no personal or familial history of bleeding disorders underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) for neurogenic dysphagia due to subarachnoid hemorrhage. On postoperative day 6, continuous oozing of venous blood was observed at the stoma. Prothrombin time was within normal range, but activated partial thromboplastin time was prolonged. Cross-mixing test results indicated the existence of an inhibitor, and laboratory findings revealed decreased factor VIII activity and high levels of factor VIII inhibitor. The patient was diagnosed as having acquired hemophilia A, for which steroid monotherapy was effective. Acquired hemophilia A is a rare but potentially fatal disease. Clinicians should be aware of this condition in patients presenting with sudden hemorrhage after PEG or other endoscopic treatments, even in those with no apparent history of bleeding.

Acquired hemophilia A as a cause of recurrent bleeding into the pleural cavity - case report and literature review

Acquired hemophilia A is a coagulation disorder caused by autoantibodies against blood coagulation factor VIII. The first sign of this disease is often massive bleeding, which can affect patients after routine procedures. The parameter which indicates the presence of this condition is isolated prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). The present article describes a case of a 32-year-old man with acute interstitial pneumonia and pleural effusion, in whom a massive hemothorax appeared after thoracocentesis; active bleeding was observed after the introduction of a chest tube. The patient was operated on, and no pinpoint bleeding was discovered during the procedure. Active bleeding was still taking place postoperatively. The patient underwent another operation after 6 days. Once more, no pinpoint bleeding was found. Prolonged APTT was observed. The activity of blood coagulation factor VIII was 3.04%. The presence of antibodies against factor VIII was confirmed, and acquired hemophilia was diagnosed. The article also includes an analysis of the literature on acquired hemophilia.