Acquired Hemophilia A in Women Postpartum: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Abstract

Acquired hemophilia A in women postpartum is diagnosed by a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), low plasma levels of coagulant factor VIII, and the detection of an inhibitor against factor VIII in the Bethesda assay. Effective treatment of bleeding symptoms should be based upon the clinical situation and depends on the inhibitor characteristics against human and porcine factor VIII. Immu nosuppression usually does not significantly affect the disap pearance of the factor VIII inhibitor antibody. The natural his tory of acquired hemophilia postpartum is independent of im munosuppressive treatment and featured by spontaneous disappearance of the inhibitor against factor VIII in the major ity of cases.