Life-Threatening Tongue and Retropharyngeal Hemorrhage in a Patient with Hemophilia A with Inhibitors

Emicizumab: a novel drug in hemophilia A prophylaxis - a narrative review

INTRODUCTION

Hemophilia A is a genetically conditioned disease leading to hemostatic disorders due to factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency. The treatment of hemophilia has evolved throughout the past years and has significantly changed. One of the newest drugs for prophylactic treatment is the humanized bispecific IgG antibody - emicizumab, which binds with factor IXa and factor X, bridging those factors and thus mimicking the activity of factor VIII.

AREAS COVERED

The literature search was made via PubMed database, with the emphasis on clinical trials and case reports, describing the off-label emicizumab use. This review presents an extensive summary and considers advantages and disadvantages (side-effects) of emicizumab, describing additional clinical situations, where emicizumab has been successfully used. In our review we cover information about the mechanisms of action, indications, efficacy and discuss some chosen case reports about off-label emicizumab use.

EXPERT OPINION

Its convenient administration method (subcutaneous) and frequency of injections (from once a week to once a month) makes it a more comfortable treatment, limiting injection-site reactions, hospital stays, costs of prophylaxis, and significantly increasing patients' quality of life. Adverse effects are scarce and rarely serious - the most common ones are reactions at the injection-site and upper respiratory tract infections.

Early presentation of traumatic pseudoaneurysm of deep lingual artery as a massive oral bleed

Tongue trauma with active bleed is most commonly due to the ruptured lingual artery and its branches, whereas delayed haemorrhage is usually secondary to pseudoaneurysm formation. This case is a unique presentation of traumatic tongue bleeds with early formation of pseudoaneurysm of a lingual artery branch. We present our experience in its management. A contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) with angiography detected right deep lingual artery pseudoaneurysm, which was managed by endovascular gelfoam embolisation followed by tongue laceration repair. Tongue bleed stopped immediately post embolisation; tongue viability and functions restored on postoperative day 1 of repair. No complications like secondary haemorrhage or tongue necrosis were noted at 1-month follow-up. High index of suspicion for lingual artery and/or its branch pseudoaneurysm is crucial in acute and uncontrollable traumatic tongue bleed. A CECT is a minimum norm in early diagnosis. Choice of management is the cornerstone of a successful outcome.

Retropharyngeal hematoma in a patient with chronic alcoholism

Retropharyngeal hematoma is a potentially life-threatening condition because it can easily lead to airway obstruction. Most of the previously reported cases of retropharyngeal hematoma are caused by predisposing factors such as head and neck trauma, the use of anticoagulants, or the presence of underlying bleeding diathesis. Herein, we report a case of retropharyngeal hematoma in a patient with chronic alcoholism, where we could not confirm any predisposing factors at the time of examination. A 61-year-old man with chronic alcoholism presented to our emergency department with convulsive seizures. He was diagnosed with alcohol withdrawal and transferred to a secondary hospital after the seizure resolved. However, a few hours later, he returned to our department with a persistent cough and complained of pain and swelling in the neck. One hour later, he suddenly developed dyspnea; therefore, emergency intubation was performed. Although initially computed tomography (CT) showed normal findings, contrast-enhanced CT revealed a retropharyngeal hematoma. He was managed conservatively and transferred to a specialty hospital for intensive care. Chronic alcoholism may be a predisposing factor for retropharyngeal hematoma due to the high incidence of head trauma, neck hyperextension by convulsion, and hemostatic disorders. However, taking an accurate patient history is sometimes difficult because of the effects of intoxication or alcohol withdrawal. If a patient with chronic alcoholism presents with symptoms of airway compression, then a retropharyngeal hematoma should be suspected, and emergency intubation should be considered.