A HEMORRHAGIC SYNDROME OF THE ELDERLY PATIENT CAUSED BY ANTIFACTOR-VIII ANTIBODIES

We report here 2 cases of elderly patients who were admitted to our De partment of Geriatrics for a hemorrhagic syndrome. The patients were f ound to be affected by a coagulopathy with prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), caused by the presence of an acquired inh ibitor of Factor VIII. This syndrome, due to anti-Factor VIII antibodi es, is surely an important clinical entity that is not easy to diagnos ed, but in concomitance with a hemorrhagic syndrome and prolonged aPPT it should always be suspected. In fact, a quick diagnosis is very imp ortant in order to apply specific treatment as soon as possible.