title: A hemorrhagic syndrome of the elderly patient caused by anti-factor VIII antibodies.
abstract: We report here 2 cases of elderly patients who were admitted to our Department of Geriatrics for a hemorrhagic syndrome. The patients were found to be affected by a coagulopathy with prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), caused by the presence of an acquired inhibitor of Factor VIII. This syndrome, due to anti-Factor VIII antibodies, is surely an important clinical entity that is not easy to diagnosed, but in concomitance with a hemorrhagic syndrome and prolonged aPPT it should always be suspected. In fact, a quick diagnosis is very important in order to apply specific treatment as soon as possible.
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics Department, Santa Chiara General Hospital, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vivaldi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubertelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000276:immunology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006406:Hematoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D005169:Factor VIII; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin