This article reports a patient with acquired haemophilia who presented with life-threatening haemorrhage. Acquired haemophilia A is a rare autoimmune disorder caused by the development of an autoantibody to endogenous factor VIII. The diagnosis and management of the condition are reviewed. A high index of suspicion is essential for the accurate and prompt diagnosis of acquired haemophilia A, when the patient is bleeding and has an isolated abnormality in APTT.
HolmePABrosstadFTjonnfjordGE. Acquired haemophilia: management of bleeds and immune therapy to eradicate autoantibodies. Haemophilia2005;11: 510–15.
3.
Huth-KuhneABaudoFCollindP. International recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with acquired hemophilia A. Haematologica2009;94: 566–75.
4.
HarperMObolenskyLRobertsPMercerM. A case of acute upper and lower airway obstruction due to retropharyngeal haemorrhage secondary to acquired haemophilia A. Anaesthesia2007;62: 627–30.
