Author/Authors :
Dolatkhah, Roya Hematology and Oncology Research Center - Hemophilia and Thalassemia Department - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz, IR Iran , Bazavar, Mohammad Reza Department of Orthopedic - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran , Poureisa, Masoud Radiology Department - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IR Iran , Asvadi Kermani, Iraj Hematology and Oncology Research Center - Hemophilia and Thalassemia Department - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz, IR Iran , Vaez Gharamaleki, Jalil Hematology and Oncology Research Center - Hemophilia and Thalassemia Department - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz, IR Iran , Sanaat, Zohreh Hematology and Oncology Research Center - Hemophilia and Thalassemia Department - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz, IR Iran , Eivazi Ziaei, Jamal Hematology and Oncology Research Center - Hemophilia and Thalassemia Department - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz, IR Iran , Nikanfar, Alireza Hematology and Oncology Research Center - Hemophilia and Thalassemia Department - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz, IR Iran , Esfahani, Ali Hematology and Oncology Research Center - Hemophilia and Thalassemia Department - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz, IR Iran , Chavoshi, Hadi Hematology and Oncology Research Center - Hemophilia and Thalassemia Department - Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz, IR Iran
Abstract :
The development of inhibitors against administered clotting factors may render replacement therapy ineffective for some hemophilia
patients. Such patients are therefore at the highest risk of developing arthropathy. Elective orthopedic surgery (EOS) in hemophilic patients
having such inhibitors remains a rare, expensive, and difficult surgery, whose management represents a significant challenge. We report the
case of a 35-year-old man with a severe form of hemophilia A (factor VIII < 1%), who was suffering from repetitive spontaneous hemarthrosis,
especially in his knee joints that had consequently become more susceptible to bleeding. The patient had a history of high levels of factor VIII
inhibitor (> 5.0 Bethesda Unit [BU]/ml) as shown by the factor VIII inhibitor assay; therefore, we began treatment with factor VIIa for his mildto-
moderate bleeding (90 μg/kg intravenous bolus injections). The interval between injections varied with the severity of the hemorrhage in
each bleeding episode. The inhibitor level reduced to 3.1 BU/ml after three months, to 1.6 BU/ml after six months, and disappeared completely
after one year of treatment. We administered factor VIII at a dose of 50 IU/kg every eight hours during the first three post-operative days,
then continued administration with a dose of 40 IU/kg every 12 hours for another four days, and observed a very good response to treatment
with no bleeding. Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is not an inhibitor-removal strategy, but an inhibitor-bypassing product. However,
in our patient, the treatment of mild-to-moderate bleeding with short-term use of rFVIIa and no exposure to factor VIII caused a gradual
reduction in the inhibitor level over a period of 1 year.
Keywords :
Orthopedics , Hemophilia A , Hemophilia B , Inhibitor