Thromb Haemost 1984; 52(02): 131-133
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1661156
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Disappearance of Antibodies to Factor VIII in a Patient with Acquired Haemophilia and Carcinoma of the Pancreas During Cytotoxic Therapy with Fluorouracil and CCNU

E G H Rhodes
The Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Academic Department of Haematology, and Department of Oncology, Royal Free Hospital, London, England
,
E A M Boesen
The Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Academic Department of Haematology, and Department of Oncology, Royal Free Hospital, London, England
,
R E T Corringham
The Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Academic Department of Haematology, and Department of Oncology, Royal Free Hospital, London, England
,
K B Matthews
The Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Academic Department of Haematology, and Department of Oncology, Royal Free Hospital, London, England
,
E G D Tuddenham
The Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Academic Department of Haematology, and Department of Oncology, Royal Free Hospital, London, England
,
P B A Kernoff
The Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Academic Department of Haematology, and Department of Oncology, Royal Free Hospital, London, England
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 14 November 1983

Accepted 29 June 1984

Publication Date:
19 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

An inhibitor to clotting factor VIII (anti-VIII: C) developed in a 70 year old woman with carcinoma of the pancreas three months after palliative by-pass surgery. A life-threatening sublingual haemorrhage was controlled by infusion of human factor VIII concentrate in high dosage. With the objective of reducing pancreatic tumour size, combination cytotoxic therapy with fluorouracil and CCNU was given. Reduction in the size of the tumour was associated with disappearance of anti-VIII:C, reappearance of normal quantities of clotting factor VIII (VIII: C) in the plasma and resolution of the bleeding tendency. The anti-VIII: C was characterised as being predominantly of the IgG4 sub-class with k light chains. In vitro and in vivo studies showed the inactivation of VIII: C by anti-VIII: C was markedly non-linear. Normal quantities of factor VIII coagulant antigen (VIII: CAg) were detected in the patient’s plasma when VIII: C levels were negligible.