Spontaneous Hemopericardium Complicated by Tamponade in a Child With Moderate Hemophilia A: Case-Based Review

Abstract

Hemophilia A is the most common severe innate bleeding disorder. It is an X-linked recessive inherited bleeding disorder characterized by a qualitative and/or quantitative deficiency of factor VIII. The clinical manifestation of this disease is hemorrhaging that can affect every organ, in particular joints (hemarthrosis) and muscles (hematoma). Some serious but rare hemorrhages can be life-threatening, in particular hemorrhage of the central nervous system and hemopericardium. We report a rare case of spontaneous hemopericardium complicated by tamponade in a child with moderate hemophilia A treated with Factor VIII replacement infusion and pericardial drainage, with a favorable outcome. To our knowledge, this is the second case described in the literature of spontaneous hemopericardium occurring in a child with hemophilia A. Our case suggests that a dose of 50 IU/kg/8 h of factor VIII maintained for up to one day after removal of the pericardial drain seems to be sufficient to ensure correct hemostasis, though further evidence is needed to confirm this impression.