Acquired hemophilia a successfully treated with rituximab

Retrospective study of the clinical manifestations and efficacy of immunotherapy for patients with acquired hemophilia A

OBJECTIVE

Raising awareness of acquired hemophilia A (AHA) and early diagnosis is critical to reduce the associated mortality rate. We aimed to characterize acquired hemophilia in Chinese patients and evaluate the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

METHODS

The clinical characteristics, laboratory test data, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes of 20 patients with AHA who were admitted to Xi'an Central Hospital between January 2012 and December 2020 were retrospectively studied.

RESULTS

Nine of the patients (45%) were treated by single glucocorticoid administration; three (15%) with cyclophosphamide (CP) in combination with a glucocorticoid; four individuals (20%) received a combination therapy of rituximab with CP and glucocorticoid or rituximab with CP, vincristine, and a glucocorticoid; three (15%) by injection of human immunoglobulin in combination with a glucocorticoid; and one (5%) with CP alone. Six patients (30%) achieved total remission and 11 (55%) partial remission (PR), but three (15%) did not enter remission, indicating an objective response rate of 85%.

CONCLUSION

Combination therapy with rituximab or intravenous human immunoglobulin achieves superior results in some patients with AHA. Immunosuppression and the administration of coagulation factors can rapidly control the disease and are efficacious, but >50% of patients only achieved PR. These findings suggest that the complete elimination of inhibitors requires prolonged immunosuppression therapy.

A Case of Acquired Hemophilia A and Congenital Hemophilia B

Congenital hemophilia B is a rare, inherited X-linked bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of factor IX (FIX). Acquired hemophilia A is a rare, acquired bleeding disorder which presents as new onset bleeding in older adults due to the development of autoantibodies against factor VIII (FVIII). This report describes the management of a patient with congenital hemophilia B and acquired hemophilia A. We highlight the limitations in maintaining FVIII levels using factor replacement alone and the need for escalating treatment such as rituximab and prednisone in patients with acquired hemophilia A. This case demonstrates the importance of continuing to pursue alternative diagnoses when existing ones do not explain the full clinical picture and laboratory data is inconclusive.

Rituximab for eradicating inhibitors in people with acquired haemophilia A

BACKGROUND

Acquired haemophilia A is a rare bleeding disorder caused by the development of specific autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII. Standard treatment, usually steroids alone, or in combination with cyclophosphamide, aims to stop acute bleeds by using haemostatic agents to promote clotting. Rituximab may be an alternative approach to the treatment of acquired haemophilia by eradicating FVIII autoantibodies. This is an update of a previously published Cochrane Review.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and adverse effects of rituximab for treating people with acquired haemophilia A.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's trials registers, comprising references identified from comprehensive electronic database searches and handsearches of relevant journals and conference proceedings (January 2021). We also undertook searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE and online trial registries (January 2021).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of rituximab for people with acquired haemophilia A, with no restrictions on gender, age or ethnicity.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

No trials matching the selection criteria were eligible for inclusion.

MAIN RESULTS

No trials matching the selection criteria were eligible for inclusion.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found no randomised clinical trials of rituximab for acquired haemophilia A. Thus, we are not able to draw any conclusions or make any recommendations on rituximab for eradicating inhibitors in people with acquired haemophilia A based on the highest quality evidence. Given that undertaking randomised controlled trials in this field is a complex task, we suggest that, while planning such trials, clinicians treating the disease continue to base their choices on alternative, lower-quality sources of evidence. In a future update of this review, we plan to appraise and incorporate eligible randomised controlled trials, as well as other high-quality, non-randomised studies.

Rituximab for eradicating inhibitors in people with acquired haemophilia A

BACKGROUND

Acquired haemophilia A is a rare bleeding disorder caused by the development of specific autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII. Rituximab may be an alternative approach to the treatment of acquired haemophilia by eradicating FVIII autoantibodies.

OBJECTIVES

To assess and summarise the efficacy and adverse effects of rituximab for treating people with acquired haemophilia A.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's trials registers, comprising references identified from comprehensive electronic database searches and handsearches of relevant journals and conference proceedings.Date of last search of the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group's trials registers: 01 March 2016.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials of rituximab for people with acquired hemophilia A, with no restrictions on gender, age or ethnicity.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

No trials matching the selection criteria were eligible for inclusion.

MAIN RESULTS

No trials matching the selection criteria were eligible for inclusion.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

No randomised clinical trials of rituximab for acquired hemophilia A were found. Thus, based on the highest quality of evidence, we are not able to draw any conclusions or make any recommendations on rituximab for eradicating inhibitors in people with acquired haemophilia A. Given that undertaking randomised controlled trials in this field is a complex task, the authors suggest that, while planning such trials, clinicians treating the disease continue to base their choices on alternative, lower quality sources of evidence. The authors plan, for a future update of this review, to appraise and incorporate any randomised controlled trials, as well as other high-quality non-randomised studies.

The anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab to treat acquired haemophilia A

BACKGROUND

Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is a rare bleeding disorder caused by the development of specific autoantibodies against naturally occurring factor VIII (FVIII). Although about half of cases are idiopathic, AHA may be associated with several non-neoplastic conditions, autoimmune disorders, as well as haematological malignancies, such as chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and lymphoma. The long-term suppression of inhibitors is one of the mainstays of the treatment of AHA. Apart from standard immunosuppressive treatments, rituximab has been proven to be effective in AHA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The aim of this review is to provide a systematic description of data available in the literature on this topic. To do so, we performed a search using the indexed online database Medline/PubMed, without temporal limits, matching the words "rituximab" and "acquired h(a)emophilia". Furthermore, additional published studies were identified in the reference list of the publications found in PubMed.

RESULTS

The review of the literature confirms that rituximab may be a safe and useful treatment for AHA.

DISCUSSION

Although rituximab is not a standard therapy for AHA, it may be useful in resistant cases. However, the definitive place of this monoclonal antibody in the therapeutic strategy for AHA (first or second-line, alone or in combination with other drugs) remains to be determined more precisely and warrants further investigation.