Abstract
Acquired haemophilia A (AHA) is a rare autoimmune disease caused by antibodies directed
against clotting factor VIII. About half of cases are idiopathic, but AHA may also
be secondary to autoimmune, dermatologic, or oncologic diseases. In approximately
10% of non-idiopathic cases, the disease occurs after or with the diagnosis of cancer
as an extremely rare paraneoplastic syndrome. We describe the case of a 73-year-old
male patient diagnosed with AHA and successfully treated with recombinant human activated
factor VIIa and immunosuppression. Two and a half years later, however, the disease
relapsed and a routine ultrasound revealed a liver tumour that was then diagnosed
as hepatocellular carcinoma. We present this case to increase awareness that this
life-threatening condition may develop years prior to the diagnosis of cancer.
Keywords
acquired haemophilia - hepatocellular carcinoma - haemorrhagic diathesis
