DEVELOPMENT OF A FACTOR-VIII INHIBITOR IN A NEWBORN HEMOPHILIAC

A major problem in the treatment of haemophilia A is the development o f inhibitors (antibodies) against factor VIII. We report the case of a newborn male with no family history of haemophilia who developed an i ntracerebral haemorrhage. On day 10 post-delivery severe haemophilia A was diagnosed and treatment with recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) concentra te was started. Seventy-two hours later the presence of inhibitors was suspected because high doses of rFVIII were required to maintain ther apeutic FVIII plasma levels. Days after, the inhibitor was detected. T he quick detection of the inhibitor in this newborn haemophiliac allow ed us to start the immunotolerance early, without interruption in the administration of rFVIII.