UNASSIGNED: We report a case of Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome type 7 (HPS-7) caused by a homozygous variant in the dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 gene (DTNBP1) and highlight the genetic challenges associated with this rare disorder.
UNASSIGNED: Case report. Literature review was performed by searching PubMed on May 2023, without language or date restriction, using the following terms: Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 7, and dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 gene.
UNASSIGNED: We report a case of a 69-year-old Portuguese female who presented for ophthalmic evaluation with long-standing severe visual impairment, pronounced photophobia, right-eye esotropia, and bilateral pendular nystagmus. Anterior segment examination revealed iris transillumination defects, while the ocular fundus showed hypopigmentation and the absence of the foveal reflex. The patient had a history of oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) and recurrent epistaxis. Her family history was positive for first-degree consanguineous parents and a deceased sister at young age who also exhibited OCA and recurrent epistaxis. Genetic testing identified a homozygous pathogenic nonsense variant in the DTNBP1, c.307C>T p.(Gln103*). The patient\'s clinical features and genetic testing support the diagnosis of HPS-7. The identified variant has been previously reported in the literature, in adult patients of Portuguese descent.
UNASSIGNED: This work highlights the genetic complexity of HPS-7 and emphasizes the importance of genetic testing in the diagnosis of this rare disorder. The identification of a rare pathogenic variant expands our understanding of HPS-7 genetics and suggests a possible founder effect in the Portuguese population.

BACKGROUND: Acquired hemophilia A is a rare autoimmune disease with clinically often significant bleeding diathesis resulting from circulating autoantibodies inhibiting coagulation factor VIII. Half of acquired hemophilia A cases are associated with an underlying disorder, such as autoimmune diseases, cancer, or use of certain drugs, or occur during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. In the other half, no underlying cause is identified. An association of acquired hemophilia A with plasma cell neoplasm seems to be extremely rare.
METHODS: We describe a case of a 77-year-old Swiss Caucasian man who was diagnosed with acquired hemophilia A and smoldering multiple myeloma as an underlying cause. Acquired hemophilia A was treated with prednisolone, cyclophosphamide, and immunoadsorption. Extensive workup revealed a plasma cell neoplasm as the only disorder associated with or underlying the acquired hemophilia A. For long-term control of acquired hemophilia A, we considered treatment of the plasma cell neoplasm necessary, and a VRD (bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone) regimen was initiated. Due to multiple complications, VRD was reduced to VRD-lite after two cycles. After nine cycles of induction therapy and five cycles of consolidation therapy, the patient is in complete remission of his acquired hemophilia A and very good partial remission of the plasma cell neoplasm. We conducted a literature review to identify additional cases of this rare association and identified 15 other cases. Case descriptions, including the sequence of occurrence of acquired hemophilia A and plasma cell neoplasm , treatment, evolution, and outcome are presented.
CONCLUSIONS: Our case, together with 15 other cases described in the literature, underscore the possibility of plasma cell neoplasm as an underlying cause of acquired hemophilia A. Physicians should consider including protein electrophoresis, immunofixation, and analysis of free light chains in laboratory diagnostics when treating a patient with acquired hemophilia A. The occurrence of excessive and unexplained bleeding in patients diagnosed with plasma cell neoplasm should raise suspicion of secondary acquired hemophilia A and trigger the request for coagulation tests, particularly in patients treated with immunomodulatory drugs such as thalidomide or lenalidomide. Additionally, early intervention with immunoadsorption can be lifesaving in cases with high-titer factor VIII inhibitors, especially when surgical interventions are necessary.

Therapeutic artefacts are a challenge for forensic pathologists for correct interpretation at autopsy. A 23-year-old female was found unconscious at home and immediately admitted to an emergency of a tertiary care hospital where resuscitative measures were taken. However, she died after 4 h of hospitalization. The injuries (abrasions, subcutaneous bruising and haemorrhage in the deep structures of the neck) discovered at autopsy simulated the findings of throttling and aroused the suspicion of homicide. Later, enquiry revealed that it happened due to mal-positioned central line in the carotid artery during internal jugular vein access to provide fluid as the patient was in shock due to aluminium phosphide (Celphos)poisoning. The bleeding diatheses in Celphos poisoning might have precipitated the extensive neck haemorrhage in this case.

Osteogenesis imperfecta, also named as brittle bone disease, is characterized by fragile bones and short stature caused by mutations in the collagen gene. Subdural and intraparenchymal hematomas are defined and associated with trauma, vascular causes, and systemic bleeding diathesis. Skull fragility may lead to epidural hematoma, which is a life-threatening situation. Vascular fragility and intrinsic platelet defects are the causes of bleeding in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta, which is a major management challenge for neurosurgeons. Here, we reported on a 5-year-old boy with osteogenesis imperfecta with epidural hematoma and skull fracture following a trivial trauma, and made a literature review of 28 cases with extra-/intradural hematoma.

Factor XIII (FXIII) deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder, which can result in life threatening hemorrhage. Rarer still is acquired FXIII deficiency, in which the disorder is due to autoantibodies that inhibit the factor. To describe one of the youngest reported patients with this condition. To discuss the challenges we encountered in monitoring response with the available assays. To review the literature and provide a review of all acquired FXIII cases. We present the case of our patient, a 9-year-old girl with acquired FXIII deficiency. We present a comprehensive review of all acquired FXIII deficiency cases reported globally in English, with focus on clinical presentation, diagnostic assays, treatment and prognosis. There is no current standard for therapy and measuring response to therapy can be complicated by limitations of assays in the presence of inhibitors. Clinicians should be aware of acquired FXIII deficiency as a potentially life threatening bleeding disorder even in young children. The case presented illustrates a young patient with acquired FXIII deficiency with a good clinical response to cryoprecipitate and difficulty in hemostasis monitoring utilizing clinically available assays.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with a higher mortality rate among stroke subtypes. The amount of hematoma at baseline and subsequent expansion are considered strong independent markers for determining poor clinical outcome. Even though reduction in blood pressure to prevent and control the amount of bleeding in ICH has received considerable amount of attention, the impact of coagulopathy and platelet dysfunction, on the bleeding diathesis has not been extensively investigated. With the increasing use of antiplatelets and/or anticoagulants, given the aging population, a deeper understanding of the interactions between ICH and hemostatic mechanisms is essential to help minimize the risk of a catastrophic coagulopathy-related ICH. In this review article, etiology and risk factors associated with coagulopathy-related ICH are discussed. An overview of coagulation abnormalities, hemostatic agents, and blood biomarkers pertaining to ICH is included.