Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Subsets in Factor VIII Inhibitor-Positive Patients with Severe Hemophilia A: A Case-Control Study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate different peripheral lymphocyte subsets in patients with severe hemophilia A (HA) and factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitor production. For this, age-matched cases of 19 FVIII inhibitor-positive (IP), 21 FVIII inhibitor-negative (IN) and 45 healthy controls were selected for study. METHODS: Flow cytometry was used to analyze the peripheral lymphocyte subsets, including T, B, natural killer (NK) and NKT cells. The T cell subsets included CD3 + CD4-CD8- [double negative T (DNT)], CD3 + CD4 + CD8+ [double-positive T (DPT)], CD3 + CD4 + CD8- and CD3 + CD4-CD8+ T cells. Pairwise comparisons of absolute lymphocyte subset values were conducted among the three groups. The cut-off value for absolute lymphocyte counts was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the absolute values of DPT cells in the IN and IP groups were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group (P = 0.007). The DNT values were also lower in severe HA patients with or without inhibitor than those in healthy subjects, but these differences were not statistically significant (P = 0.053). In addition, the absolute value of CD4+ Th cells in the IP group was lower than that in the healthy controls (P = 0.013). Although not statistically significant (P = 0.064), the absolute values of NKT cells were higher in the IN group compared with the IP group, and higher in the IP group compared with the healthy control group. There were no statistically significant differences in total T, B, CD8 + and NK cells among the IN, IP and healthy control groups. The cut-off value for absolute CD4+ Th cells in the IN group was < 598/µl. CONCLUSION: The decrease in absolute values of CD4+ Th cells in severe HA patients may contribute to the establishment of infused FVIII immune tolerance. If the CD4+ Th value remains > 598/µl, clinicians should be vigilant for possible FVIII inhibitor production, especially on days prior to FVIII exposure.

Acute Acquired Hemophilia A Following Snake Bite: A Case Report and Clinical Insights.

BACKGROUND Coagulopathies can manifest on a spectrum, from minor mucosal bleeding to life-threatening hemorrhage. Minor cases can be discovered in the setting of known risk factors, such as malignancy, old age, immunosuppression. However, acquired hemophilia A diagnosed after a snake bite is of lesser-known incidence and can present in a more acute, potentially life- or limb-threatening fashion. To properly diagnose this coagulopathy, one must be familiar with the related signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings so that swift diagnosis can follow. Diagnosis is key for early proper management, as displayed in the following case. CASE REPORT Our case report details a male patient presenting with diffuse bruising after a snake bite. Initially, on presentation to outside facilities, the diagnosis of acquired hemophilia A was not found. However, upon worsening of bruising in the setting of previous treatments initiated for the patient, he presented to our facility, where he subsequently received a diagnosis with acquired hemophilia A. He developed compartment syndrome due to excessive bleeding, requiring surgical intervention. With proper diagnosis, his bleeding diathesis was corrected with multiple rounds of repletion of factors and immunosuppression. His follow-up laboratory test results and examinations have shown continued resolution of his symptoms. CONCLUSIONS As acquired hemophilia A is less often linked with snake bites, this case highlights the importance of considering this disease process as a differential in patients with bleeding diathesis after a snake bite. The coagulation dysfunction can be severe, and, as such, early identification of this diagnosis leads to more targeted and effective therapy.

Severe acquired hemophilia A associated with COVID-19 vaccination: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare autoimmune disease caused by an antibody that inhibits coagulation factor VIII activity. More than half of patients with AHA cannot identify underlying disorders. The remaining patients are associated with malignancies, autoimmune diseases, skin diseases, infections, and medications. Here, we present a case of 56-year-old Korean man with underlying hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus who developed AHA following the second dose of BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination. PATIENT CONCERNS: He presented with a large 20 × 30 cm-sized hematoma along the psoas muscle and intracranial hemorrhage, necessitating intensive care with mechanical ventilation and continuous renal replacement therapy. Laboratory testing demonstrated that activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin times were 74.7 seconds (normal range 29-43 seconds) and 17.2 seconds (normal range 12.5-14.7 seconds), respectively. DIAGNOSES: Laboratory tests confirmed AHA with undetectable factor VIII activity (<1.5%) and a positive factor VIII antibody with a titer of 8.49 Bethesda units/mL. INTERVENTIONS: Recombinant factor VIIa (NovoSeven®) was administered every 2 hours to control the bleeding, alongside immunosuppression with methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg daily and cyclophosphamide 2 mg/kg daily to eliminate the autoantibody. OUTCOMES: Despite the treatments, the patient developed sepsis and succumbed 14 weeks after admission. LESSONS: This rare case underscores the importance of monitoring for AHA following COVID-19 vaccination. Although the benefits outweigh the risks of vaccination, AHA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unusual bleeding following the vaccinations. Early diagnosis and management before severe bleeding are critical for successfully controlling life-threatening bleeding.

Acute Abdominal Crisis in Type A Hemophilia: Unraveling Retroperitoneal Hematoma: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Classical hemophilia A, an X-linked recessive disorder, is characterized by an inability to produce factor VIII in normal quantities. This condition, also leading to factor IX deficiency, underpins the bleeding disorder known as hemophilia A. Among the complications of this illness, spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma is rare but can be associated with congenital coagulopathies such as von Willebrand disease or hemophilia A. This type of spontaneous internal bleeding has been the subject of a limited number of studies. CASE REPORT A 38-year-old man with a known diagnosis of hemophilia A presented to the Emergency Department exhibiting acute pain in the right lower abdomen. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen identified a right-sided retroperitoneal mass, suspected to be a hematoma. Within 7 h after admission, the patient experienced significant drops in the hemoglobin level and platelet count. He was administered packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelet transfusions prior to transfer to the Intensive Care Unit. There, he was treated with factor VIII and recombinant factor VIIa, coupled with stringent monitoring. Following clinical and laboratory findings and stabilization, he was discharged with specific medications, and a follow-up appointment was scheduled. CONCLUSIONS Spontaneous retroperitoneal hematoma in patients with hemophilia A is a rare and grave emergency. This case underscores the need for precise diagnostic approaches, tailored management strategies, and vigilant surveillance to prevent and mitigate the potentially life-threatening complications associated with spontaneous hemorrhage in this population.

Mutational Profile in Romanian Patients with Hemophilia A.

Hemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked recessive bleeding disorder caused by mutations in the F8 gene, resulting in deficient or dysfunctional factor VIII (FVIII). This study aimed to characterize the mutational profile of HA in Romanian patients using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). A total of 107 patients were analyzed, revealing pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in 96.3% of cases. The identified mutations included missense (30.5%), nonsense (9.1%), small deletions (6.4%), small insertions (2.1%), splice-site variants (4.3%), large deletions (1.6%), and large duplications (1.1%). Large intron inversion was previously found in 37.5% of the patients. Novel variants accounted for 21.5% of identified mutations, expanding the spectrum of F8 variants in this population. This study underscores the genetic heterogeneity of HA and provides insights into genotype-phenotype correlations, aiding in clinical management and prenatal diagnosis.

Accuracy and clinical role of digital templating for total knee arthroplasty performed on haemophilic knees.

INTRODUCTION: In total knee arthroplasty (TKA), choosing the correct implant size is important. There is lack of data on accuracy of templating on haemophilic knees. Our aim was to test the accuracy of 2D digital templating for TKA on haemophilic arthropathy (HA) of knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TKAs performed on HA between January 2011 and January 2022 were screened. Osteoarthritis (OA) group was created as control group by a one-to-one matching regarding type of implant used. Intra- and interobserver correlations were measured in HA, then correlation between templated and implanted sizes was investigated in four assessments (femur AP, femur lateral, tibia AP, tibia lateral), then compared with OA group. Fifty-eight knees in each group included. RESULTS: Regarding intraobserver correlation in HA, there was excellent correlation for femur AP [.93 (.73-.98)], femur lateral [.98 (.91-.99)], and tibia AP (1.0) templating. Regarding interobserver correlation in HA, excellent correlation was observed for femur lateral [.93 (.74-.98)] and tibia AP templating [.90 (.65-.97)]. Regarding correlation of templated and applied sizes in HA; tibia AP, tibia lateral and femur lateral templating showed good correlation [.81 (.70-.89), .86 (.77-.91), .79 (.67-.87) while femur AP templating showed moderate correlation [.67 (.50-.79)]. Comparing HA and OA, there was no difference in correlation levels regarding femur AP, femur lateral, tibia AP and tibia lateral templating (p = .056, p = .781, p = .761, p = .083, respectively). CONCLUSION: Although 2D digital templating shows comparable correlation in HA and OA, clinical applicability of templating on HA appears to be limited in its current state.

[Long-term health-related quality of life and related factors in children with severe hemophilia A who received regular low-dose prophylaxiss].

Objective: To investigate long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and related factors in children with severe hemophilia A (HA) who received regular low-dose prophylaxis. Methods: Clinical data of severe HA children who began to receive regular low-dose coagulation factor Ⅷ (FⅧ) prophylaxis in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2011 were retrospectively enrolled. The longest last follow-up period was May 31, 2023. The attendance of school or work and daily physical activity during the last follow-up were investigated. The patients were divided into full attendance group and incomplete attendence group according to attendance. The patients were divided into into exercise attainment group (reached Chinese sports recommendation) and exercise nonattainment group according to the exercise status. Barthel score was used to assess activities of daily living and Haemo-QoL was used to assess quality of life. Long-term HRQoL for children aged 8-16 years and patients aged 17 years and above were assessed using Haemo-QoL SF and Haem-A-QoL versions, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation between treatment conditions and Haemo-QoL scores. Results: A total of 22 cases were enrolled, the prophylaxis initiation age ranged from 1.8-17.9 (10.4±3.8) years old. The average prophylactic FⅧ dose during low-dose prophylaxis was 24.2 U/kg per week and the follow-up time was 6.3-15.1 (9.6±2.8) years. At the last follow-up, the age of the patients was (20.2±5.4) years, of which 14 (63.6%) were adults over 18 years old. There were 15 patients in the full attendance group and 7 patients in the incomplete attendence group. Compared with the full attendance group, the incomplete attendence group had a smaller preventive treatment dose [M(Q1, Q3), (28.4±11.1) vs (15.3±3.7) U/kg, P=0.012], shorter preventive treatment time [148. 1 (18.6, 346.5) vs 48.0 (32.0, 156.9) weeks, P=0.017], and higher annual joint bleeding rate (AJBR) [12.5 (6.0, 22.3) vs 14.2 (13.2, 17.8) times, P=0.017]. There were 7 cases in the exercise attainment group and 15 cases in the exercise nonattainment group. Compared to the exercise attainment group, the exercise nonattainment group had shorter preventive treatment time[313. 7 (156.9, 366.0) vs 48.0 (16.5, 108.9) weeks, P=0.006], a higher AJBR [7.0 (5.1, 10.0) vs 23.3 (12.5, 29.8), P=0.003] and a higher hemophilia joint health score (HJHS) [9.0 (2.0, 15.5) vs 23.0 (12.0, 27.8), P=0.014]. Barthel score showed 81.8% (18 cases) of the patients' living ability was not influenced by the illness. In Haemo-QoL score, the total score of Haemo-QoL SF in 7 cases was (47.6±17.0) scores, the total score of Haem-A-QoL in 15 cases was (45.2±22.6) scores. The daily activity dimension of the Haem-A-QoL score was the lowest [38.2 (10.9, 45.5) scores], which was positively correlated with the starting age of prophylactic initiation (r=0.501, P=0.057), and negatively correlated with the duration of prophylaxis (r=-0.545, P=0.036). Conclusions: Regular low-dose prophylaxis could improve the long-term HRQoL of some children with severe HA, and children with higher prophylactic doses and longer prophylactic treatment time have higher quality of life.

Exploring the relationship between condition severity and health-related quality of life in people with haemophilia A across Europe: a multivariable analysis of data from the CHESS II study.

BACKGROUND: Haemophilia A (HA; Factor VIII deficiency) is a congenital X-linked bleeding disorder characterized by trauma-related or spontaneous bleeding events, most notably arising within the intraarticular space and resulting in chronic inflammation and degeneration of affected joints. Endogenous clotting factor activity relative to normal levels determines the severity of HA symptoms, as mild (> 5-40%), moderate (1-5%), or severe (< 1%). Within the current environment of rapid evolution in HA management, we seek to understand the interplay of condition severity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) to characterise and differentiate unmet needs among people with HA (PwHA). METHODS: A generalised linear regression model (GLM) was developed to explore the relationship between HA severity and EQ-5D-5 L index score from adult HA patients sampled in the "Cost of Haemophilia across Europe - a Socioeconomic Survey II" (CHESS II) cross-sectional, retrospective burden of illness study among adults with hereditary haemophilia A or B from eight European countries. HA patients of any severity with no active inhibitors during the 12 months prior to data capture and a completeEQ-5D-5 L response were included. A base GLM model was specified with covariates for demographic and clinical characteristics (age, body mass index, country, employment, HA severity, annual bleeding rate, problem joints, and chronic pain). RESULTS: Of 381 evaluable patients, 221 (58.0%) had severe HA, 96 (25.2%) had moderate HA, and 64 (16.8%) had mild HA. Among the covariates included in the GLM model and after controlling for haemophilia-related outcomes, a significant association was observed between mild HA and higher EQ-5D-5 L index score (average marginal effects, 0.084; p = 0.016) relative to severe HA. Patient country of residence and magnitude of HA-related chronic pain were also associated with significant differences in index scores, with the latter showing a negative relationship with HRQoL outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Condition severity and chronic pain are significant predictors of HRQoL in PwHA. Durable bleeding protection and effective management of chronic pain have the potential to address unmet treatment needs in this population.

Joint health and pain in the changing hemophilia treatment landscape.

INTRODUCTION: Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder. Bleeding, and in particular joint hemorrhage results in chronic arthropathy and disability. Acute and chronic pain are frequent and limit activity and participation and result in decreased health-related quality of life. Remarkable progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of hemophilia but bleeding continues to prove recalcitrant to currently available treatments and joint disease remains problematic. Physiotherapy and pain management are mainstays of current multidisciplinary integrated care of people with hemophilia (PWH). The focus of this review is on preservation of joint health in the era of new and innovative therapies. AREAS COVERED: A search of the PubMed Central was conducted on 1 February 2024 using the MeSH Major Topic terms identified as keywords for the manuscript. This review will highlight what is known and unknown about joint bleeding and arthropathy, including insights on pain as a related complication. EXPERT OPINION: Recent advances in therapeutic interventions aimed at promoting healthy joints in PWH will be discussed, including both the pharmacological treatment landscape and related strategies to promote joint health.

Ultrasound-guided joint procedures in hemophilia: technique, indications and tips.

INTRODUCTION: The therapeutic approach to pain in hemophilia should be multimodal. Intra-articular injections are a good option when joint lesions do not respond to hematological treatment or rehabilitation and orthopedic surgery is not yet indicated. Performing these procedures under ultrasound guidance has been shown to improve their accuracy and efficacy. AREAS COVERED: This article provides a practical overview of the most frequently employed ultrasound-guided intra-articular procedures on the joints of people with hemophilia. The article describes the key elements for performing the technique on the elbow, knee and ankle as the most affected joints. The particularities of the most frequent indications, arthrocentesis, synoviorthesis and analgesic injections with various products are detailed. EXPERT OPINION: Current hematological treatments have made it possible to incorporate new therapeutic tools for pain relief for people with hemophilia, including ultrasound-guided joint procedures, which offer excellent results.

Efanesoctocog Alfa Prophylaxis for Children with Severe Hemophilia A.

BACKGROUND: Once-weekly efanesoctocog alfa provides high sustained factor VIII activity with superior bleeding prevention as compared with prestudy factor VIII prophylaxis in previously treated patients 12 years of age or older with severe hemophilia A. Data on outcomes of efanesoctocog alfa treatment in children younger than 12 years of age with severe hemophilia A are limited. METHODS: We conducted a phase 3, open-label study involving previously treated patients younger than 12 years of age with severe hemophilia A. Patients received prophylaxis with once-weekly efanesoctocog alfa (50 IU per kilogram of body weight) for 52 weeks. The primary end point was the occurrence of factor VIII inhibitors (neutralizing antibodies against factor VIII). Secondary end points included annualized rates of treated bleeding episodes, bleeding treatment, safety, and pharmacokinetics. RESULTS: A total of 74 male patients were enrolled (38 with an age of <6 years and 36 with an age of 6 to <12 years). No factor VIII inhibitors developed. Most adverse events were nonserious. No serious adverse events that were assessed by the investigator as being related to efanesoctocog alfa were reported. In the 73 patients treated according to the protocol, the median and model-based mean annualized bleeding rates were 0.00 (interquartile range, 0.00 to 1.02) and 0.61 (95% confidence interval, 0.42 to 0.90), respectively. A total of 47 patients (64%) had no treated bleeding episodes, 65 (88%) had no spontaneous bleeding episodes, and 61 (82%) had no episodes of bleeding into joints. A total of 41 of 43 bleeding episodes (95%) resolved with one injection of efanesoctocog alfa. Mean factor VIII activity at steady state was more than 40 IU per deciliter for 3 days and more than 10 IU per deciliter for almost 7 days after dose administration. The geometric mean terminal half-life was 40.0 hours. CONCLUSIONS: In children with severe hemophilia A, once-weekly prophylaxis with efanesoctocog alfa provided high sustained factor VIII activity in the normal to near-normal range (>40 IU per deciliter) for 3 days and more than 10 IU per deciliter for almost 7 days after administration, leading to effective bleeding prevention. Efanesoctocog alfa was associated with mainly nonserious adverse events. (Funded by Sanofi and Sobi; XTEND-Kids ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04759131.).

Global Hemostatic Methods to Tailor Treatment With Bypassing Agents in Hemophilia A With Inhibitors- A Single-Center, Pilot Study.

For patients with hemophilia A and high-titer inhibitors treated with bypassing agents there are no reliable methods to assess treatment effect. We investigated the utility of global hemostatic methods in assessing treatment with bypassing agents (rFVIIa or activated prothrombin complex [aPCC]). All patients with hemophilia A and inhibitors followed at the Coagulation Unit or the Pediatric Coagulation Unit at Karolinska University Hospital aged 6 years and above were eligible for this noninterventional study. Baseline plasma samples were spiked with bypassing agents in increasing concentrations (aPCC 50 U/kg, 100 U/kg, 150 U/kg, and rFVIIa 90 µg/kg and 270 µg/kg) in vitro. For patients treated with factor concentrates or bypassing agents follow-up samples were collected (in vivo tests). The samples were analyzed using overall hemostatic potential (OHP), and calibrated automated thrombogram, Calibrated Automated Thrombogram (CAT). Nine patients with hemophilia A with inhibitors were included. Spiking with rFVIIa normalized the coagulation potential in 6/8 samples, in 3 only with high dose. Only one sample did not improve adequately after spiking with aPCC. The improvement in hemostasis was reliably shown by both CAT and OHP. The baseline potential was, however, more often measurable by OHP compared to CAT. Factor concentrate had been administered to 5 patients normalizing the hemostatic potential in vivo in 2 (without spiking). The hemostatic improvement induced by spiking with rFVIIa or aPCC is shown by OHP and CAT, but the results have to be evaluated in larger cohorts.

Retrospective study of the clinical manifestations and efficacy of immunotherapy for patients with acquired hemophilia A.

OBJECTIVE: Raising awareness of acquired hemophilia A (AHA) and early diagnosis is critical to reduce the associated mortality rate. We aimed to characterize acquired hemophilia in Chinese patients and evaluate the effectiveness of immunotherapy. METHODS: The clinical characteristics, laboratory test data, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes of 20 patients with AHA who were admitted to Xi'an Central Hospital between January 2012 and December 2020 were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: Nine of the patients (45%) were treated by single glucocorticoid administration; three (15%) with cyclophosphamide (CP) in combination with a glucocorticoid; four individuals (20%) received a combination therapy of rituximab with CP and glucocorticoid or rituximab with CP, vincristine, and a glucocorticoid; three (15%) by injection of human immunoglobulin in combination with a glucocorticoid; and one (5%) with CP alone. Six patients (30%) achieved total remission and 11 (55%) partial remission (PR), but three (15%) did not enter remission, indicating an objective response rate of 85%. CONCLUSION: Combination therapy with rituximab or intravenous human immunoglobulin achieves superior results in some patients with AHA. Immunosuppression and the administration of coagulation factors can rapidly control the disease and are efficacious, but >50% of patients only achieved PR. These findings suggest that the complete elimination of inhibitors requires prolonged immunosuppression therapy.

Anti-mCD20 in combination with α-mCXCL13 monoclonal antibody inhibits anti-FVIII antibody development in hemophilia A mice.

Anti-factor VIII (FVIII) antibody development poses a significant challenge in hemophilia A (HA) patients receiving FVIII protein replacement therapy. There is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit the production of anti-FVIII inhibitory antibodies (inhibitors) in HA. This study aimed to investigate a combination monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy targeting CXCL13 and CD20 on the development of anti-FVIII antibodies in a HA murine model, along with the underlying mechanisms involved. Specifically, mAbs targeting mouse CD20 (18B12) with an IgG2a backbone and mouse CXCL13 (2C4) with an IgG1 backbone were synthesized. HA mice with FVIII inhibitors were established, and the results revealed that the combination therapy of anti-mCD20 with α-mCXCL13 significantly suppressed anti-FVIII antibody development and induced FVIII tolerance. Furthermore, this combination therapy led to a marked reduction of peripheral and splenic follicular helper T cells and an enhancement of regulatory T cell induction, along with sustained depletion of bone marrow and splenic plasma cells in HA mice with preexisting FVIII immunity. Thus, the concurrence of blockage of CD20 and neutralization of CXCL13 hold promise as a therapeutic strategy for HA patients with inhibitors.