Suppression of autoantibodies to factor VIII and correction of factor VIII deficiency with a combined steroid-cyclophosphamide-porcine factor VIII treatment in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
The presence of autoantibodies against factor VIII is an unusual but serious complication in rheumatoid arthritis. We describe the case of a patient who developed this kind of complication, with spontaneous bleeding and marked changes in the haematological parameters, that was unsuccessfully treated with a high dose of intravenous gammaglobulin. Subsequently, combined therapy with porcine factor VIII concentrate, cyclophosphamide and steroids led to the disappearance of the anti-factor VIII autoantibodies.
Pignone
A
A
Institute of Internal Medicine IV, University of Florence, Italy.
Matucci-Cerinic
M
M
Morfini
M
M
Lombardi
A
A
Rossi Ferrini
P L
PL
Cagnoni
M
M
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005169:Factor VIII; D011241:Prednisone