Plasma exchange for acquired hemophilia: a case report

Ther Apher. 1999 Nov;3(4):320-2. doi: 10.1046/j.1526-0968.1999.00208.x.

Abstract

A patient with acquired hemophilia complicated with chronic renal failure and lung tuberculosis was successfully treated by consecutive plasma exchange (PE). A 71-year-old man with serious bleeding tendency showed low coagulation factor levels and a high titer of factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitor, and he was diagnosed with acquired hemophilia. Because of the complication of active lung tuberculosis, instead of immunosuppressive therapy, he undertook a series of PE with fresh frozen plasma replacement for 3 months. After the start of PE, his bleeding symptoms and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) improved gradually according to the decrease in FVIII inhibitor levels. These results suggest that PE is an effective therapeutic tool for refractory acquired hemophilia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antitubercular Agents / administration & dosage
  • Factor VIII / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hemophilia A / etiology*
  • Hemophilia A / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Plasmapheresis / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / complications
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Factor VIII