Inhibitory and mild forms of hemophilia: diagnostic difficulties, surgical complications

Abstract

To identify patients with hemophilia who have a high risk of postoperative hemorrhagic complications. Prospective trial included 69 patients aged 18-71 years (median 29) with congenital hemophilia A and B. They underwent elective and emergency treatment for abdominal and thoracic pathology at the National Medical Research Center for Hematology in 2011-2016. Patients with mild and inhibitory forms of hemophilia were compared with those with severe and moderate forms of hemophilia. There were 50 (73%) patients with severe and moderate forms of hemophilia, 8 (11%) with inhibitory and 11 (16%) patients with mild form. Emergency operations were performed in 18 cases, elective - in 51. Inhibitory form of hemophilia is associated with 1.5 times higher (95% CI, 1.1-3.0) risk of hemorrhagic postoperative complications and death and 3,5 times higher (95% CI 1.7-5.9) risk of redo surgery compared with severe and moderate forms (p<0.05). Risk of hemorrhagic postoperative complications is also higher in patients with mild form of hemophilia compared with severe and moderate forms (1/6 vs. 1/50; p=0.05). The risk of postoperative hemorrhagic complications is significantly higher in inhibitory and mild hemophilia compared with severe and moderate forms and associated with hemostatic therapy defects and inadequate assessment of hemostatic disorders. Long-standing haemorrhagic syndrome should be followed by blood clotting system analysis including evaluation of procoagulant activity, presence of inhibitor, and thromboelastography. Decreased levels of albumin (by 2.9-8.6% in our trial) and cholesterol (by 6.5-54.8%) reflects impaired liver function and is sign of unfavorable prognosis. This finding should be considered for surgery and therapy of hemorrhagic manifestations.