Transplacental transfer of postpartum inhibitors to factor VIII

R. R. Lulla*, G. A. Allen, A. Zakarija, D. Green

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Acquired haemophilia due to antibodies directed against coagulation factor VIII is a well-recognized cause of severe haemorrhage in adults but an uncommon cause of bleeding in children. We present the cases of a mother with a life-threatening postpartum haemorrhage due to an autoantibody to factor VIII and her newborn who developed symptomatic bleeding after a minor surgical intervention as a result of transplacental transfer of the autoantibody. Both patients were treated with infusions of recombinant factor VIIa to control bleeding. The mother required immunosuppressive therapy to decrease inhibitor levels and the infant's levels decreased over time without specific treatment. We also provide a concise review of postpartum haemophilia and transplacental transmission of factor VIII autoantibodies to the neonate - a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of acquired haemophilia in women of childbearing age.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)14-17
Number of pages4
JournalHaemophilia
Volume16
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2010

Keywords

  • Acquired haemophilia
  • Autoantibodies
  • FVIII
  • Newborn
  • Postpartum
  • RFVIIa
  • Transplacental

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Genetics(clinical)

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