A circulating anticoagulant occurring after temporal arteritis and controlled by corticosteroid therapy

Area of Science:

• Internal Medicine
• Hematology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Temporal arteritis is an inflammatory condition affecting large blood vessels.
• Circulating anticoagulants can cause significant bleeding complications.
• Antihaemophilic globulin (Factor VIII) deficiency leads to bleeding disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of acquired inhibitor to antihaemophilic globulin secondary to temporal arteritis.
• To investigate the relationship between steroid therapy and the circulating anticoagulant.
• To determine the long-term management strategy for this rare complication.

Main Methods:

• Case report detailing clinical presentation and laboratory findings.
• Monitoring of antihaemophilic globulin levels and anticoagulant activity.
• Therapeutic intervention with corticosteroids and observation of response.

Main Results:

• A patient developed a circulating anticoagulant against antihaemophilic globulin following temporal arteritis.
• Steroid administration led to the disappearance of the anticoagulant.
• Discontinuation of steroids resulted in the recurrence of the anticoagulant.

Conclusions:

• Temporal arteritis can be associated with the development of acquired inhibitors to clotting factors.
• Steroid-responsive circulating anticoagulants may necessitate long-term management.
• Preventing hemorrhagic manifestations requires sustained therapeutic intervention.