Acquired isolated factor VII deficiency associated with severe bleeding and successful treatment with recombinant FVIIa (NovoSeven).

Acquired isolated FVII deficiency not due to vitamin K deficiency or liver disease is rare and often associated with severe bleeding. We present a case of transient acquired factor VII deficiency associated with major bleeding, successfully treated with twice daily intermittent intravenous recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) (NovoSeven; Novo Nordisk). The severe transient reduction in factor VII coagulant activity (FVII:C) levels, unresponsive to fresh frozen plasma and vitamin K administration, raise the possibility of an acquired inhibitor to factor VII. However, no inhibitor to factor VII could be demonstrated using protein G sepharose adsorption, or a Bethesda assay using IgG purified from patient plasma. There are few reports of the use of rFVIIa in this setting and this case suggests that rFVIIa is effective therapy, and should be considered early when acquired factor VII deficiency is associated with severe bleeding.