Issue: 2020 > Juli > case report

HIV-associated and idiopathic-acquired haemophilia A: A single-centre case series from Cape Town, South Africa



CASE REPORT
R. Shein, J. du Toit, M. Goeijenbier, C. du Toit, Estelle Verburgh
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Abstract

Acquired haemophilia A is a rare coagulation disorder, which can lead to life-threatening haemorrhages if not identified and treated promptly. It is characterised by the presence of autoantibodies (inhibitors) to factor VIII. Acquired haemophilia A associated with HIV is a rare but well described phenomenon with limited directions to its management. We comparatively describe four patients – two with HIV and two without - that presented with unusual bleeding episodes with a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time secondary to factor VIII inhibitors. An empiric observation is that the patients with acquired haemophilia A associated with HIV had higher antibody titres at presentation, that required more prolonged immunosuppressive therapy to induce remission.