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Acquired Hemophilia A associated with bullous pemphigoid: A rare combination
Mariana Bragança1, Carolina Valente1, Ana Isabel Ferreira1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal.
Abstract:
Acquired Hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare autoimmune disorder, caused by the development of circulating autoantibodies against coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). AHA is associated with bullous pemphigoid in 2% of patients. We report a case of a 74-year-old man admitted with anemia and a tense subcutaneous and muscular hematoma in the right thigh. Blood analysis confirmed AHA. The patient had a recent diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. Response to bypass agents and corticosteroids was good with bleeding control and normalization of FVIII and negative autoantibodies, respectively. In a 3-month follow-up period after tapering and stopping prednisolone, a relapse occurred, and immunosuppression was reinitiated. An early diagnosis and effective treatment in AHA are essential to reduce morbimortality. A careful tapering of immunosuppression is important to minimize FVIII inhibitor recurrence, as observed in this case.
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