Bleeding Tendency of a Light Chain (AL) Amyloidosis Patient Accompanied by Asymptomatic Plasma Cell Myeloma.
- Author:
Hwa Jeen LEE
1
;
Ji Eun KIM
;
Seon Yang PARK
;
Hyun Kyung KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords: Amyloidosis; Plasma cell myeloma; Hemorrhagic tendency; Acquired von Willebrand syndrome
- MeSH: Amyloidosis; Blood Coagulation Factors; Hemorrhage; Humans; Light; Multiple Myeloma; Partial Thromboplastin Time; Plasma; Plasma Cells; Platelet Aggregation; Prothrombin Time; von Willebrand Factor
- From:Laboratory Medicine Online 2013;3(3):183-188
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: We present a case of abrupt-onset hemorrhagic tendency in a patient with amyloidosis who also had asymptomatic plasma cell myeloma. The patient was a 66-yr-old man with no previous history of hemorrhagic tendency and no family history of hemorrhagic disease. On examination, the prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were found to be prolonged and were not corrected even after a mixing test; moreover, the levels of coagulation factors I, II, V, VII, and X were almost normal. We therefore considered the presence of a nonspecific coagulation inhibitor. Although the von Willebrand factor (vWF) activity and vWF antigen level were normal due to sampling following transfusion, the increased closure time on PFA-100 (Siemens) analysis and the absence of ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation suggested the presence of acquired von Willebrand syndrome (vWS). After chemotherapy, the patient showed alleviation in the bleeding symptoms. Therefore, testing for acquired vWS should be considered when a patient has a history of recent bleeding with underlying amyloidosis.
