Severe acquired hemophilia A successfully treated with activated recombinant human factor VII

A case of acquired hemophilia A in a 65-year-old woman is presented. The patient had been subjected to cholecystectomy 2 months before the bleeding tendency appeared. On admission, she had easy bruising and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, but during hospitalization she had severe hemorrhage into the right gluteal and femoral muscles. An inhibitor of the factor VIII coagulant protein (FVIII:C) of high Bethesda titer was found in her serum. The patient was successfully treated with activated recombinant human factor VII (rhFVIIa) and immunosuppression. We conclude that rhFVIIa is a safe, effective, and fast-acting preparation for the treatment of severe hemorrhage in patients with acquired hemophilia A, and that the simultaneous administration of azathioprine and corticosteroids may suppress production of the inhibitor.