A high titer of acquired factor V inhibitor in a hemodialysis patient who developed arterial thrombosis

Idiopathic factor V inhibitor in a patient starting haemodialysis

A 74-year-old Pacific Island man with end-stage renal failure planning to start haemodialysis presented with persistent bleeding after tunnelled dialysis catheter insertion. The laboratory findings revealed a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time of 118 s, prothrombin ratio of 4.2, factor V activity of <2% and a factor V inhibitor of 40 Bethesda Units. No clear underlying aetiology was identified. The bleeding settled with conservative measures and the factor V inhibitor was successfully treated with oral cyclophosphamide for 6 weeks.

Acquired factor V inhibitor with erythema and eosinophilia in a patient with end-stage renal disease

Autoimmune factor V deficiency (AiFVD) is a rare bleeding disorder caused by factor V inhibitors. In this report, we present the case of an 89-year-old man who developed bleeding tendency during surgery to create arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis. The bleeding tendency developed with prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin and prothrombin time, following drug-induced eruption and eosinophilia. Significant reduction in coagulation factor activity and inhibitory pattern in cross-mixing tests suggested the presence of inhibitors to coagulation factors. Subsequently, we detected a factor V inhibitor and anti-factor V autoantibodies was confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with purified human plasma factor V. Thus, the patient was 'definitely diagnosed' with AiFVD in accordance with the diagnostic criteria enacted by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. The bleeding tendency improved after initiating oral prednisolone 50 mg (1 mg/kg) followed by normalization of activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time at the 34th day. After improving the coagulation system prolongation, the inhibitor and autoantibodies has been eradicated. Since it is suggested that drug-induced immune response can cause AiFVD, AiFVD should be considered in patients who undergo hemodialysis and develop failure of hemostasis and drug-induced eruption.

Plasma proteomics associated with autoimmune coagulation factor deficiencies reveals the link between inflammation and autoantibody development

Autoimmune coagulation factor deficiency (AiCFD) is characterized by sudden excessive bleeding due to autoantibodies against coagulation factors. This occurs primarily in elderly patients with no family history or previous clotting issues. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying autoantibody development are not well understood. Here, we evaluated the plasma proteome in patients with AiCFD and compared it with that of 22 healthy controls and 17 patients with non-autoimmune acquired factor XIII deficiency (acF13D). We identified eighteen proteins whose plasma levels were higher in AiCFD than in either healthy controls or patients with acF13D. Most of these proteins were found to be acute-phase reactants or immunoglobulins. Patients with acF13D had lower levels of nine of these proteins and higher levels of the remaining nine compared to healthy controls. However, in all cases, these protein levels were much higher in patients with AiCFD than in those with acF13D. These results suggest that an inflammatory response independent of the acute inflammation caused by bleeding can occur, which may lead to the development of AiCFD. Therefore, we believe that severe and/or chronic inflammation, probably due to an underlying disease or aging, is the most important factor in autoantibody development.

Acquired Factor V Inhibitor Complicated with Immune Thrombocytopenia

We herein report a patient with a high bleeding tendency as a result of acquired factor V inhibitor and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The administration of prednisolone increased the platelet count, but a fatal bleeding event occurred before platelet levels had sufficiently increased. Factor V is stored in not only plasma but also platelets, and platelet-derived factor V might play a local hemostatic role. Bleeding tendency may be high in rare cases where factor V inhibitor is complicated with severe thrombocytopenia. In such patients, physicians should consider aggressive hemostatic therapy, including plasma exchange, in addition to immunosuppressive therapy.

A Review of Coagulation Abnormalities of Autoimmune Acquired Factor V Deficiency with a Focus on Japan

Coagulation factor V (or FV for the purpose of medical safety) is an essential cofactor of coagulation factor X in the common pathway of coagulation; severe FV deficiency leads to a bleeding tendency. Although both congenital and acquired FV deficiencies are widely recognized, FV deficiency also presents as an autoimmune disorder. A nationwide survey on autoimmune coagulation factor deficiencies (AiCFDs) conducted in Japan by our Japanese Collaborative Research Group identified 24 new patients with autoimmune FV deficiency (AiFVD) in the past 5 years. Furthermore, our extensive literature search confirmed that 177 AiFVD cases have been reported in previous articles published from Japan. Patients with AiFVD in Japan were predominantly men, with age similar to those with other AiCFDs. AiFVD was confirmed as a relatively mild type of bleeding diathesis, associated with lower mortality rate than that for AiFVD and other AiCFDs reported in previous studies. Patients with AiFVD had variable FV inhibitor titers and both neutralizing anti-FV autoantibodies and nonneutralizing counterparts. Although spontaneous resolution occurs in some patients, timely initiation of hemostatic and immunosuppressive therapies helps arrest the bleeding and eliminate anti-FV antibodies, resulting in a high cumulative recovery rate. Immunological anti-FV antibody detection is recommended to avoid missing AiFVD cases for the presence of nonneutralizing anti-FV autoantibodies. Further investigation is necessary to clarify the long-term prognosis and optimal management of AiFVD.

Acquired Coagulation Factor V Inhibitor That Was Successfully Treated with Oral Corticosteroid Therapy

Acquired coagulation factor V (FV) inhibitors are rare disorders in which antibodies against FV develop under various conditions. We herein report the case of a 71-year-old woman with FV inhibitor during radiochemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. Multiple purpuras suddenly appeared on her bilateral upper limbs with prolonged coagulation data (APTT 97.3 seconds). The FV activity was less than 3% and the FV inhibitor was positive (1.7 B.U./mL). Oral prednisolone induced a rapid normalization of the coagulation data and FV activity and a rapid disappearance of FV inhibitor within 7 days. Early diagnosis and treatment may therefore be important in cases of FV inhibitor.

Autoimmune Factor V Deficiency That Took 16 Years to Diagnose due to Pseudodeficiency of Multiple Coagulation Factors

A 70-year-old man presented to our hospital with intramuscular hemorrhage in the right thigh. He had exhibited a tendency to bleed for the last 16 years and had visited several medical institutions, but no diagnosis had been made. Since the risk of sudden bleeding was assumed to be high due to his age, we decided to examine him in our department. A coagulation abnormality with prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) of 4.5 and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) of 99.6 seconds was observed, but the platelet count, fibrinogen, and PIVKAII were within normal limits. Coagulation activities of factor V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, and XIII were all reduced. Anti-factor VIII and IX antibodies which were measured by the Bethesda method, lupus anti-coagulant (diluted Russell snake venom time method) and anti-cardiolipin antibody were also positive. The results of these tests were comparable to those undertaken 15 years ago when they were scrutinized at the university hospital. We suspected the presence of anti-factor V antibodies because there was a dissociation between the thrombotest values measured and those calculated from the PT-INR. Moreover, cross-mixing test showed an immediate inhibitor pattern. Subsequently, factor V antibodies were confirmed by the immunoblot method and the diagnosis of autoimmune factor V deficiency was made. When factor V, which is downstream of the coagulation cascade, is inhibited, coagulation test using the one-stage clotting method shows a pseudolow value. Therefore, extensive abnormalities of coagulation factor activity and inhibitor assay should be interpreted with caution, and the presence of a high titer of factor V inhibitor should be considered.

Acquired Factor V Inhibitor After Antibiotic Therapy: A Clinical Case Report and Review of the Literature

Acquired factor V inhibitor (aFVi) is an exceptionally rare hematologic condition that can range from incidental laboratory abnormalities to life-threatening hemorrhage. Bovine thrombin was formerly the most common cause of this condition; however, the decreased use of bovine thrombin in surgical procedures has led to a shift in the cause of aFVi toward antibiotic use and malignancies. Here we present a case of an 80-year-old Caucasian female on long-term warfarin therapy who presented with epistaxis and an elevated international normalized ratio, and a history of cephalosporin antibiotic use. We review the published literature beginning in 2016 to identify the evolving causes of aFVi. Additionally, we propose that stress-mediated immune regulation may contribute to antibody formation, preventing the interaction between factor V and the damaged phospholipid membranes. This case highlights the evolving causes of aFVi and should prompt physicians to consider this diagnosis in coagulopathies that do not correct with traditional therapies.

Acquired factor V inhibitors after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a dog

Objective

Describe the clinical course and management of a dog that underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for treatment of B‐cell lymphoma and developed acquired circulating factor V (FV) inhibitors.

Case Summary

An 8‐year‐old male castrated Briard dog diagnosed with lymphoma (IVb, B‐cell) presented for allogeneic HSCT. Despite multiple platelet, fresh frozen plasma, and red blood cell transfusions prolonged recovery and clinical bleeding occurred. Circulating acquired FV inhibitors were identified and hemorrhage subsequently was managed by immunosuppression. The dog was discharged when clinical resolution of bleeding was achieved.

New or Unique Information Provided

This case report describes a dog undergoing curative intent treatment for lymphoma, and subsequently acquiring factor inhibition, and was successfully managed. Specific coagulation screening to assess for coagulation factor deficiencies or inhibitors is essential in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with refractory bleeding or only transient response to blood transfusion.