Acquired haemophilia in HIV negative, HHV-8 positive multicentric Castleman's disease: a case report

Eur J Haematol. 2003 Mar;70(3):181-2. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0609.2003.00038.x.

Abstract

Multicentric Castleman's Disease (MCD) is an atypical lymphoproliferative disorder, related to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection and often associated with autoimmune diseases such as haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Acquired haemophilia (AH) is a rare, life-threatening disease, which can occur in association with lymphoproliferative disorders, although only one case of AH in MCD has been described so far. We report the case of a human immuno deficiency virus negative 71-yr-old woman referred to our hospital for prolonged bleeding on surgical site following a lymph node biopsy. Lymph node histology revealed MCD, while the screening for the bleeding disorder showed prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (ratio: 1.89, normal value <1.24), low factor VIII (FVIII:C) levels (6%) with anti-factor VIII antibodies (2.3 Bethesda units), leading to a diagnosis of AH. Virological studies on plasma, lymphocyte and bronchoalveolar wash showed positivity for HHV-8 infection. Treatment with steroids (metilprednisolone 1-1.5 mg/kg/d) and cyclophosphamide (100 mg/d orally) was unsuccessful, and then antiviral therapy with cidofovir (5 mg/kg/wk) was started. A transient normalisation of APTT was seen after two administrations of cidofovir, but then coagulation parameters worsened and a large haematoma of the arm appeared. Bleeding was successfully stopped with two boluses of recombinant activated factor VII (Novoseven 90 microg/kg). Therapy with anti-CD 20 monoclonal antibody rituximab (Mabthera 375 mg/m2 once a week for 4 wk) was started, and following two administrations APTT normalised once again. Cardiological and neurological complications arose before the third dose of rituximab and the patient died shortly afterwards.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Castleman Disease / complications*
  • Castleman Disease / virology
  • Factor VIII / analysis
  • Factor VIII / immunology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • HIV Seronegativity
  • Hemophilia A / complications*
  • Hemophilia A / immunology
  • Hemophilia A / virology
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / complications
  • Herpesviridae Infections / diagnosis
  • Herpesviridae Infections / drug therapy
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human*
  • Humans
  • Partial Thromboplastin Time

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Factor VIII