Abstract

FERNANDEZ DE PALENCIA ESPINOSA, M. Á.; AROCAS CASAN, V.; GARRIDO CORRO, B.  and  RUBIA NIETO, A. de la. Acquired haemophilia A in a patient with chronic hepatitis C virus infection receiving treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin: role of rituximab. Farm Hosp. [online]. 2013, vol.37, n.6, pp.494-498. ISSN 2171-8695.  https://dx.doi.org/10.7399/FH.2013.37.6.686.

Background: Acquired haemophilia is an uncommon condition caused by the development of clotting factor inhibitors. To eliminate them, immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs is required. Methods: We describe a case of rituximab use in acquired haemophilia refractory to conventional therapy in a 63 year old male patient with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who was receiving treatment with pegylated-interferon-α-2a plus ribavirin. Results: After 21 weeks of antiviral therapy, the patient was admitted to hospital with a large haematoma in the abdominal muscles. Factor VIII level was zero and inhibitor titer was 345 Bethesda units. Oral immunosuppressive therapy with methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide was administered for 1 month, with limited improvement. Therefore, cyclophosphamide was replaced by a four once-weekly dose of intravenous rituximab. Two months later, factor VIII level was normal and inhibitor titer was undetectable. Conclusion: Rituximab may be useful for the treatment of acquired haemophilia resistant to standard therapy.

Keywords : Acquired haemophilia A; Acquired factor VIII deficiency; Rituximab; Hepatitis C virus; Pegylated interferon alpha-2a.

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