Emicizumab for the treatment of acquired hemophilia A: Retrospective review of a single-institution experience

Introduction Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is a rare and potentially life-threatening bleeding disorder arising from autoantibodies that inhibit coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). Treatment entails achieving haemostasis with bypassing agents or factor replacement, and eradication of the inhibitor with immunosuppressive therapy (IST). Due to the rarity of AHA, there are few prospective data to guide management. Methods We present a retrospective report of 11 AHA patients treated with emicizumab, a FVIII-mimetic bispecific antibody, administered at 3 mg/kg weekly for 4 weeks in conjunction with rituximab-based immunosuppressive therapy. The chromogenic FVIII inhibitor assay was used to assess for inhibitor eradication. Results The median follow-up was 13.9 months. The median number of days of additional haemostatic therapy or red blood cell transfusions after initiating emicizumab was 2 (range 0-15). The median was 0 days (range 0-8) for patients who did not require vascular embolization to achieve haemostasis. Eight patients achieved a complete remission (defined as recovery of FVIII activity to > 50% with a negative inhibitor test in the absence of haemostatic and IST); two patients achieved a partial remission (FVIII activity > 50% but with detectable inhibitor); one patient experienced refractory disease. One patient experienced rebleeding and two patients experienced inhibitor recurrence. No thrombotic, thrombotic microangiopathic or infectious complications occurred. Conclusion Our observations suggest emicizumab can facilitate haemostasis for AHA patients and be combined with safer, lower-intensity immunosuppressive therapies to achieve remission.