Acquired FVIII and FIX Inhibitors after Pregnancy: A Case Report

Acquired haemophilia A in the postpartum and risk of relapse in subsequent pregnancies: A systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

About 1%-5% of acquired haemophilia A cases affect mothers in the postpartum setting.

AIMS

This study delineates the characteristics of this disease, specific to the postpartum setting, notably relapse in subsequent pregnancies.

METHODS

Report of two cases and literature study (1946-2019), yielding 73 articles describing 174 cases (total 176 cases).

RESULTS

Patients were aged 29.9 years (17-41) and 69% primigravidae. Diagnosis was made at a median of 60 days after delivery (range 0-308). Bleeding types were obstetrical (43.4%), cutaneous (41.3%), and muscular (36.7%). In >90% of the cases, FVIII at diagnosis was <1% (range 0%-8%). FVIII inhibitor was documented in 75.4% cases (median titre of 20 BU/ml, range 1-621). Haemostatic treatment was necessary in 57.1% using fresh frozen plasma (16%), factor concentrate (27.6%) and/or bypassing agents (37.4%). Immunosuppressive treatment was administered in 90.8%, mostly steroids (85.3%), alone or combined with immunosuppressants (27%). Rituximab was used mostly as a second line treatment. Only 24 patients (13.6%) had documented subsequent pregnancies and 6 (22.2%) suffered haemophilia recurrence during pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

This study allows better definition of: (1) clinical and laboratory characteristics of postpartum acquired haemophilia, (2) response to therapy, and (3) the risk of relapse for subsequent pregnancies.

Postpartum-Acquired Hemophilia A Presenting as Hemoperitoneum: A Case Report

Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a bleeding diathesis caused by the production of autoantibodies to factor VIII (FVIII). It manifests as an isolated deranged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) indicating a defect in the intrinsic coagulation pathway. Herein, we report a case of a 26-year-old woman who presented with hemoperitoneum in the postpartum period following a lower segment Caesarean section (LSCS). AHA carries significant mortality if it remains undiagnosed, and early recognition and measures to eradicate the acquired inhibitors are the mainstays of its management.

Inhibitor eradication and bleeding management of acquired hemophilia A: a single center experience in China

Objectives: Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare disease resulting from autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII that leads to spontaneous bleeding. This study reports the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of a relatively sizable cohort of patients with AHA. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the characteristics and outcomes of 42 patients with AHA diagnosed in our center from January 2014 through December 2018. Results: The FVIII activity (FVIII: C) was significantly suppressed (median 1.5%; interquartile range [IQR]: 0.9-3.5) by FVIII inhibitor (median 8 BU/mL; IQR: 4.0-16.0). Bypassing agents, PCC or FVIIa, were used in 14 patients for bleeding control without any adverse reaction; and most patients (90.5%, 38/42) were placed on immunosuppressive regimen, corticosteroid alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide. Patients treated with corticosteroids alone had a lower median inhibitor titer (8 BU/mL) than those treated with combination corticosteroids of cyclophosphamide (16 BU/mL) (p < 0.001). 97.4% (37/38) patients achieved complete remission (CR) after immunosuppression therapy, and the median time to CR in patients treated with corticosteroids alone was shorter than those with combination corticosteroids of cyclophosphamide (median 40 days; IQR: 31-65 vs. 51 days; IQR: 38-83, p = 0.301). 10 (26.3%) patients relapsed thereafter and were placed on combined corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide treatment, which yielded second remission in 8 patients (80%). Two patients died, one from uncontrolled post-surgical retroperitoneal hemorrhage and one from sepsis complicating corticosteroid therapy. Conclusion: The corticosteroid achieves a satisfactory outcome, particularly with low inhibitors titers; and combination of cyclophosphamide will facilitate remission in sever patients with high titers of inhibitors.