An acquired hemorrhagic disorder of fibrin crosslinking due to IgG antibodies to FXIII, successfully treated with FXIII replacement and cyclophosphamide.

We report a new case of severe bleeding diathesis due to an acquired inhibitor of fibrin crosslinking. The patient, an 80-year-old woman, was admitted to the hospital for a massive subcutaneous hematoma, with severe anemia requiring red cell transfusion; a subsequent retroperitoneal hematoma developed 2 weeks later. Coagulation studies were normal except for a thromboelastographic pattern suggestive of FXIII deficiency. Clot solubility test was abnormal even after 1:1 mix with normal plasma. Immunochemical studies confirmed the presence of a monoclonal IgG lambda inhibitor directed against FXIII activity (type II FXIII inhibitor). The patient IgG fraction selectively inhibited FXIII transamidating activity but did not inhibit the thrombin-mediated activation of FXIII. The patient was treated with high doses of FXIII concentrate to overcome the inhibitor and immunosuppressive therapy with cyclophosphamide and discharged in good conditions. High doses of commercially available FXIII appear to be a safe and effective method of controlling acute episodes of bleeding in patients with acquired FXIII deficiency.