acquired hemophilia medication causes
General Discussion. Acquired hemophilia (AH) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by bleeding that occurs in patients with a personal and family history negative for hemorrhages. Autoimmune disorders occur when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells or tissue. Internal bleeding may also put pressure on your joints, causing severe pain. Left untreated, frequent internal bleeding may cause arthritis or destruction of the joint. Infection. People with hemophilia are likelier to have blood transfusions, increasing their risk of receiving contaminated blood products. Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder in which a person lacks or has low levels of certain proteins called “clotting factors” and the blood doesn’t clot properly as a result. This leads to excessive bleeding. There are 13 types of clotting factors, and these work with platelets to help the blood clot. In the US (~320 million people), this amounts to about 320-500 patients at any one time. Acquired hemophilia can occur in association with other underlying conditions that involve the immune system, like cancer, other autoimmune diseases, pregnancy or even the use of certain medications (shown in pie chart below). NovoSeven has been well-tolerated and associated with few side effects. Risk of thrombotic adverse effects (thrombosis) is below 1% for individuals with AH. NovoSeven has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a bypassing agent for the treatment of individuals with acquired hemophilia. Antibodies in congenital and acquired hemophilia are different, even though they might both be called inhibitors. In congenital hemophilia, patients are born with insufficient factor VIII or IX, so replacement factor VIII or IX medication is given. There is no personal or family history of bleeding in patients with acquired hemophilia. Once an inhibitor is present, there can be spontaneous bleeds and it is common to have severe bleeding after invasive procedures. Each year, acquired hemophilia occurs in only 1 to 1.5 people per 1 million people. Complications of hemophilia may include: 1  Deep internal bleeding. Bleeding that occurs in deep muscle can cause your limbs to swell. 2  Damage to joints. Internal bleeding may also put pressure on your joints, causing severe pain. 3  Infection. Complications of hemophilia may include: 1  Deep internal bleeding. 2  Damage to joints. 3  Infection. Adverse reaction to clotting factor treatment. 4  Causes. Preparing for your appointment. Hemophilia A is the most common type of hemophilia, and it’s caused by a deficiency in factor VIII. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), eight out of 10 people with hemophilia have hemophilia A. Hemophilia B, which is also called Christmas disease, is caused by a deficiency of factor IX.
It can occur in association with other underlying conditions that involve the immune system, like cancer, other autoimmune diseases, pregnancy or even the use of certain medications.