*1Ahmed, S. G., and 2Ibrahim, U. A.
1Department of Haematology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
2Department of Paediatrics, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: drsagirahmed@yahoo.com; +2348034418015
Abstract:
Background: Haemophiliacs are often transfusion-dependent, and are at risk of HIV and non-HIV immuno- suppression, making them vulnerable to transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) and non-TTIs, many of which can cause infection-associated bleeding (IAB) even in non-haemophilic individuals. Haemophiliacs are particularly susceptible to IAB due to vicious interaction between pre-existing ‘inherited’ FVIII deficiency and infection-induced ‘acquired’ pro-haemorrhagic abnormalities. IAB in haemophiliacs manifests as undue musculoskeletal and/or mucocutaneous haemorrhages. It is thus important for haemophilia caregivers in general (and in the tropics in particular) to have thorough understanding of IAB. Clinico-pathological perspectives of IAB in haemophilia are fragmented, and not comprehensively appraised in previous literature. This review presents updated, compre- hensive but concise overview of pathogenesis, trigger mechanisms, clinical implications, therapy and prevention of IAB in haemophiliacs as accrued from literature.
Methodology: Online databases such as PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar and others were interrogated using the search terms; ‘haemophilia-A’, ‘viral, bacterial and parasitic infections’, ‘bleeding’, ‘mucocutaneous’, ‘thrombo- cytopenia’, ‘ecchymosis’, ‘purpura’, ‘haematuria’, ‘melena’, ‘haematemesis’, and ‘haemoptysis’ in various combina- tions. Continue reading “The role of infections in the pathogenesis of bleeding among patients with haemophilia-A: A primer for haemophilia caregivers in the tropics”