Acquired hemophilia A as a cause of acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 2014; p. bcr2013203179
• Main Authors: McCain, Stephen, Gull, Sadaf, Ahmad, Jawad, Carey, Declan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 05.02.2014; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Case Report
• Subjects: Abdomen; Aged; Anemia; Blood Coagulation Tests; Blood platelets; Congenital diseases; Diagnosis, Differential; Esophagus; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - etiology; Hematology; Hemophilia; Hemophilia A - complications; Hemophilia A - diagnosis; Hemorrhage; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Intensive care; Laboratories; Male; Molecular weight; Mortality; Patients; Rare Disease; Stomach; Surgery; United Kingdom; White; United Kingdom > UK
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2013-203179

A 71-year-old man presented to the emergency department with his first episode of hematemesis. He was anemic and coagulopathic on admission, and became hemodynamically unstable requiring surgical intervention to control the bleeding. Prior to surgery, he required 100% plasma exchange with human plasma derived prothrombin complex concentrate (Octaplex) as the exchange fluid. At induction of anesthesia, he received tranexamic acid, prothrombin complex concentrate, and platelets. At the time of knife to skin, he was given coagulation factor VIIa intravenously as a bolus. This treatment was on the recommendation of the hematology team who suspected a diagnosis of acquired hemophilia on the basis of his history and coagulation screen. His bleeding was controlled and a diagnosis of acquired hemophilia A was confirmed in the postoperative period. This was managed with immunosuppressive therapy, and at the 2 year follow-up he remains well and is off all treatment.