A creative approach to managing a case of haemophilia A with inhibitors in a low-resource country: case report

The development of antibodies to therapeutic factor VIII, known as inhibitors, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with haemophilia. This is particularly challenging in areas where access to novel treatment options is limited. This case report presents a clinical scenario in South Western India involving a 16-year-old male with severe haemophilia A with high titre inhibitors, who sustained a tibia-fibula shaft fracture necessitating emergency surgical intervention. The successful management of this patient required a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing haemostasis optimisation, innovative factor replacement strategies to work around financial constraints, and a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. The patient’s history of multiple factor VIII concentrate transfusions contributed to inhibitor development. Limited funds for bypassing agents prompted the utilisation of fresh frozen plasma to achieve haemostasis before access to FEIBA and recombinant factor VII. Emicizumab, a subcutaneously administered bispecific antibody, was used to assist perioperative haemostasis. A comprehensive rehabilitation plan with regular physiotherapy was followed. Emicizumab prophylaxis was initiated and the patient now shows improvement. This case emphasises the importance of novel treatment options such as FEIBA and emicizumab in dealing with complications in haemophilia such as inhibitors. In resource-limited settings, there is still a need to improve the availability of these life-saving interventions to optimise surgical outcomes in such cases.