Control of life-threatening bleeding by combined plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive treatment in a haemophiliac with inhibitors.

Life-threatening lingual haemorrhage was successfully treated in a 3-year-old haemophiliac who had a high level of inhibitor in his plasma. Repeated plasma exchange with high-dose factor VIII concentrate led to a cessation of bleeding. Immunosuppressive treatment introduced at the time of plasmapheresis and carried out for 6 weeks seems to have prevented the return of the inhibitor.