Uncomplicated neurosurgical resection of a malignant glioneuronal tumour under haemostatic cover of rFVIIa in a severe haemophilia patient with a high-titre inhibitor: a case report and literature review of rFVIIa use in major surgeries

Haemophilia. 2010 Jan;16(1):54-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2516.2009.02089.x. Epub 2009 Aug 26.

Abstract

The development of inhibitors following factor VIII replacement therapy is a serious complication in severe inherited haemophilia. Whereas significant experience, notably in orthopaedic surgery, is now obtained with the use of bypassing agents in haemophilia with high-titre inhibitor, new surgical challenges might occur due to patients' increasing life expectancy. A 56-year-old severe haemophilia A patient with a high-titre inhibitor was diagnosed for probable right temporoparietal malignant glioneuronal tumour on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (4 cm x 3 cm cerebromeningeal tumour with perilesional oedema and transfalcial herniation) requiring total resection. Then recombinant activated FVII (rFVIIa) was chosen as the haemostatic agent: bolus of 270 microg kg(-1) every 2 h during the first 24 h, 180 microg kg(-1) every 3, 4 and 6 h, respectively, at days 2-3, from days 4-10 and finally from days 11-15. Tranexamic acid was associated. Pre- and postoperative courses were uneventful, the surgical procedure being assessed at optimal haemostatic condition without any unusual haemorrhage on MRI controls, diffuse intravascular coagulation criteria or thromboembolic event. Intensive rFVIIa therapy has shown to be safe and effective in this first reported neurosurgery about a malignant tumour exhibiting to a high-bleeding risk notably in haemophilia with high-titre inhibitor. The use of lower doses of rFVIIa might have been possible; however, in the absence of accurate test for monitoring rFVIIa therapy, the potentially life-threatening complications of this procedure required maximum haemostasis with high rFVIIa doses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blood Coagulation Factor Inhibitors / blood*
  • Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / immunology
  • Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Factor VIIa / therapeutic use*
  • Hemophilia A / drug therapy*
  • Hemostasis, Surgical
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Hemorrhage / prevention & control
  • Prothrombin Time
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Blood Coagulation Factor Inhibitors
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • recombinant FVIIa
  • Factor VIIa