About Hemophilia Hemophilia & Acquired Inhibitors
If you weren't born with hemophilia and yet acquire an inhibitor later in life, you may be far more baffled than those with the condition from birth. To help, here's a quick overview of acquired inhibitors.
Acquired inhibitors are also known as acquired hemophilia. It's a condition where your immune system starts to see one of its clotting factors as foreign and makes antibodies to help the body destroy the clotting factor. These antibodies are the inhibitors, and they stop the clotting factor from doing its job.
Who’s At Risk For Acquired Inhibitors?1
Statistically, people who meet the following criteria are more likely to acquire inhibitors:
- Over 50 years of age (under 20 years of age for non-acquired inhibitors)
- Autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis
- Recent pregnancy
- Malignancies such as lymphoma, acute or chronic lymphocytic leukemias, and solid tumors
- Dermatologic diseases
- Exposure to penicillins, phenytoin, phenylbutazones, or chloramphenicol
Find More Help And Resources Here
- Learn how to do the 5!
- View the emergency room checklist.
- More information about sports & exercise.
- Want to connect to the hemophilia community?
- Proactively manage your health insurance.
The Signs Of Acquired Inhibitors
Bleeding episodes for people with acquired inhibitors are somewhat different than for people with hemophilia who have inhibitors. People with acquired inhibitors will experience significant swelling and/or bruising of one part of the body.
Other signs can include tea-colored urine (can be a sign of bleeding in the bladder or kidney); black stools (bleeding into the bowel); and problems with eyesight, blurring vision, headache, or dizziness (internal bleeding).
Note: ThereForYou.com does not recommend a particular treatment for specific individuals and recommends that you consult your treatment center or physician before pursuing any course of treatment.
References
- Franchini M, Lippi G. Acquired factor VIII inhibitors. Blood. 2008;112(2):250-255
