Acquired Hemostatic Abnormalities in the Elderly

Postpolypectomy bleeding secondary to undiagnosed haemophilia B in an octogenarian

“…However, it is uncommon for a patient with haemophilia to have minimal symptoms or remain asymptomatic until after the eighth decade of life. Moreover, when a previously unrecognised haemorrhagic disorder afflicts an octogenarian, it is usually an acquired rather than a hereditary disorder (7,8), thus most clinicians would not consider haemophilia to be the first differential diagnosis in this context.…”

Classic Hemophilia in Elderly Patients

“…In the case of a true deficiency, the aPTT will be corrected by admixture with normal plasma, while in the presence of inhibitors the aPTT will remain prolonged. Acquired inhibitors are more commonly the cause of FVIII deficiency in the geriatric‐age population, 2 but the possibility of classic hemophilia should be included in the differential diagnosis.…”

“…An elderly patient with a hemorrhagic diathesis associated with a prolonged aPPT (Partial Thromboplastine Time) is a diagnostic challenge for the clinician. Whereas acquired coagulopathies are more likely to be considered as the probable cause, 1 , 2 inherited disorders like hemophilia should be included in the differential diagnosis as demonstrated in this report.…”