Immunoadsorption for the Treatment of Acquired Hemophilia: New Observational Data, Systematic Review, and Meta-Analysis

Hemmkörperhämophilie: aktuelle Aspekte

Die erworbene Hämophilie A stellt die häufigste Hemmkörperhämophilie dar. Sie kann idiopathisch, in Zusammenhang mit anderen Erkrankungen oder post partum auftreten. In einem Großteil der Fälle treten ausgeprägte Blutungszeichen auf, die lebensbedrohlich verlaufen können. Wichtige Differentialdiagnosen werden genannt. Die Diagnose wird ausgehend von der verlängerten aPTT durch Plasmamischversuche und den Bethesda-Test gestellt. Die Therapie erfolgt einerseits neben lokalen Maßnahmen zur Blutungskontrolle durch Gerinnungsfaktorpräparate sowie Tranexamsäure zur Blutstillung sowie andererseits durch Immunsuppression mit Glukokortikoiden, Rituximab und/oder Cyclophosphamid zur Elimination des inhibitorischen Autoantikörpers. Alternative Immunsuppressive Therapieoptionen für refraktäre Fälle werden aufgezeigt. Die Prognose scheint vor allem davon abhängig zu sein wie stark Faktor VIII initial reduziert ist.

New Developments in Diagnosis and Management of Acquired Hemophilia and Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome

Acquired hemophilia A and acquired von Willebrand syndrome are rare, but life-threatening bleeding disorders that require prompt diagnosis and treatment by hematologists. Acquired hemophilia A is defined as an acquired severe bleeding tendency caused by autoantibody formation against coagulation factor VIII. Acquired von Willebrand syndrome is characterized by a new onset bleeding tendency caused by a reduced concentration and/or function of von Willebrand factor. These disorders are associated with a variety of underlying disorders, including various hematological malignancies, for example, plasma cell disorders, lymphoproliferative disorders, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, and myeloproliferative neoplasms. It is of utmost important to recognize these acquired bleeding disorders in these patients who are at risk for severe bleeding, and to perform additional diagnostic hemostasis laboratory evaluation. This will enable immediate diagnosis of the acquired bleeding disorder and management of both the bleeding episodes and the causative underlying disorder. In recent years, several new etiological factors for acquired hemophilia A, such as treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors or DPP-4 inhibitors and SARS-CoV2 infection, and for acquired von Willebrand syndrome, for example, left ventricular assist devices, have been identified and also new treatment options have become available. In this concise review, the most recent data on etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of acquired bleeding disorders are presented and discussed.