A 63-year-old man had been diagnosed with gastric cancer and had undergone a gastrectomy at his nearby hospital. Bleeding within the intraperitoneal drainage tube was observed 5 d after surgery. Intraperitoneal cytology identified gastric cancer cells and a diagnosis of stage IV gastric cancer was confirmed. He developed hematemesis and melena 2 d following the removal of the drainage tube. His anemia worsened and his hemoglobin (Hb) level reached 6.3 g/dL, requiring red blood cell (RBC) transfusions for 5 d consecutively. Endoscopic examination revealed intestinal bleeding from the site of the anastomosis (Figure ), and endoscopic hemostasis was performed. Subcutaneous hemorrhage became apparent in both lower extremities over several days. Transfusion with a total of 7 units of packed RBC was performed. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was prolonged to 74.2 s compared to 23.1 s measured preoperatively, and the patient was transferred to our hospital.\nOn admission, the patient presented with anemia, an Hb level of 9.0 g/dL and a prolonged APTT of 93.7 s. FVIII activity was reduced to 3.18%, the inhibitor titer was 7.59 BU/mL, and he was diagnosed with AHA. Prednisone (PSL 1 mg/kg per day) and tranexamic acid were administered. Although the patient had developed an intramuscular hematoma in the right iliacus muscle approximately 1 mo after treatment, bypassing agents had not been administered because the hemorrhage was not persistent. As the inhibitor titer had increased to 11.7 BU/mL, 1 g of cyclophosphamide (CPA) was additionally administered and chemotherapy for gastric cancer with TS1 (tegafur/gimeracil/oteracil) was initiated. The inhibitors were eradicated, and the patient was discharged 9 wk after treatment for AHA. Because the patient remained in remission for AHA, the PSL dose was reduced and stopped. Treatment for gastric cancer was administered repeatedly; however, the patient died 9 mo after gastrectomy due to carcinomatous peritonitis.
A male, 52-year-old patient visited the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INC) in Bogotá, Colombia, because of the development of a mass in the back region. There had been progressive growth and multiple drainage attempts due to a suspected abscess at various referral sites without relief. He was given non-oncological surgical resection in another institution, and his pathology report was compatible with high-grade sarcoma with positive margins. Additionally, he referred to bilateral vision loss that had been evolving for one month. The initial clinical exam revealed a patient with normal vital signs who was disoriented with regard to space and time though awake and had poor communication with the examiner. He presented a hyperpigmented tumor measuring 10 x 8 cm in the back region, along with a scarred postsurgical lesion without inflammatory signs. The biopsy was reviewed by the INC Pathology Department, which indicated a high-grade sarcoma compatible with myxofibrosarcoma.\nHe was examined by the Ophthalmology Department, which considered bilateral retinal detachment probable. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan was performed, which showed a diffuse density alteration of the subcutaneous cellular tissue, without evidence of lesions, probably due to edema. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast showed an undefined heterogeneous mass dependent on the soft tissues in the posterior thorax wall, with infiltration signs in the muscular plane and the density alteration of the subcutaneous cellular tissue and skin (See Figure ). He was examined by clinical oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology services, which indicated he was not a candidate for chemotherapy, surgical treatment, or radiotherapy because of the significant extension of the tumor into the upper and lower back, the inadequate response of these tumors to chemotherapy, and the patient’s poor Zubrod performance score.\nDuring inpatient care, the patient showed substantial clinical worsening characterized by the progressive deterioration of his consciousness state and persistent oral cavity bleeding. Laboratory tests were requested, which showed the prolongation of blood clotting time due to extended partial thromboplastin time (PTT), with the test value for prothrombin time (PT) being 11.9 seconds and that for PTT being 50.1 seconds (normal value until 28 seconds). The mixing study showed PTT fixing with a 50:50 normal plasma sample that lasted for the first and second hour, suggesting intrinsic pathway coagulation factor deficiency. Even though the mixing study was not suggestive of the presence of inhibitors, the medical history of the patient, the presence of an active neoplasm, and the recent beginning of bleeding created a clinical suspicion of acquired hemophilia. For these reasons, a new mixing study, VIII factor assay, and Bethesda assay to measure factor VIII inhibitors were requested. In addition, treatment with prednisone at 1 mg/kg/day and factor VIII at 1700 international unit (IU) every 12 hours was initiated. The results of these assays showed a basal PTT of 67 seconds, which with the 50:50 sample with normal plasma, was reduced to 38,2 seconds and maintained at around normal values two hours afterwards, with a value of 36,3 seconds. Factor VIII was measured at 4% and remained at this same value (4%) 10 minutes after the injection of intravenous factor VIII. The specific factor VIII inhibitor assay reported 1.6 Bethesda units. A diagnosis of acquired hemophilia was made based on the presence of hidden low-titer inhibitors in the mixing study.\nBased on the findings above, the persistence of oral cavity bleeding, and daily transfusion support in the form of two red blood cell units, IV treatment with an activated prothrombin complex like the factor eight (VIII) inhibitor bypassing activity (FEIBA) at a dose of 3500 units/12 h (50 U/kg every 12 hours) was initiated. During the patient’s evolution, hypofibrinogenemia development, the continuous elevation of D-dimer levels, and progressive thrombocytopenia suggested a diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Because of the unresolved bleeding, it was decided to initiate a transfusion of cryoprecipitate and tranexamic acid oral rinse while augmenting the FEIBA dose. The patient developed a low response to the established treatment, along with more profound neurological impairment (central nervous system bleeding was ruled out) and the persistence of red blood cell, platelet, and cryoprecipitate transfusion requirements. Additionally, the patient had severe hyponatremia in the form of an electrolyte imbalance. Electrolyte correction was initiated, and because of the persistence of bleeding, oral cyclophosphamide was added to the immunosuppressive treatment, with the objective of eradicating the inhibitors. Seven days afterward, because of the lack of clinical response to management and the impossibility of providing specific antineoplastic treatment, with the agreement of the patient´s family, transfusion support was suspended, and palliative care was initiated. The patient died one week after.