Case Series: Emicizumab Therapy in Acquired Hemophilia A

Here is an open-access article describing emicizumab Rx in acquired hemophilia A: Calcaterra I, De Luca C, D’Errico G, et al. Emicizumab in acquired hemophilia A: a real-world case series with patient-level outcome analysis. Semin Thromb Hemost. 2026 doi: 10.1055/a-2788-1642. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41534873.

Abstract

Acquired Hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare bleeding disorder caused by factor VIII inhibitors. Standard therapies are limited by thrombotic risk and prolonged hospitalization. Emicizumab, approved for congenital Hemophilia A, has emerged as a potential alternative in AHA based on case reports and early clinical trial data. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Emicizumab in AHA through a retrospective real-world case series and a systematic literature review with patient-level data analysis. We retrospectively analyzed five AHA cases treated with Emicizumab at two Italian centers and performed a PRISMA-compliant systematic review of published reports, extracting and analyzing patient-level data using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. In the real-world cohort, early Emicizumab use in five patients with high-titer inhibitors and severe bleeding led to rapid hemorrhagic control, early withdrawal of bypassing agents, and no thrombotic or adverse events. All five patients received immunosuppression, and inhibitor eradication was achieved in 60% of patients; however, for 40%, follow-up is still ongoing. The literature review identified 24 patients from 18 publications. Early Emicizumab administration (at admission) was associated with reduced bleeding recurrence (0% vs. 56.3%), shorter in-hospital stay (median 23.5 days vs. 39 days), and lower bleeding-related mortality (0% vs. 12.5%) compared with delayed administration. Early initiation of emicizumab appears to be a safe and effective strategy for AHA management, particularly in fragile or high-risk populations. Its subcutaneous route, favorable safety profile, and ability to reduce hospitalization support its integration into first-line therapeutic algorithms. Further prospective studies are warranted to define.