Spontaneous Spinal Subdural Hematoma Secondary to Hemophilia A and Zanubrutinib

J Neurol Surg Rep. 2022 Mar 8;83(1):e19-e22. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1744128. eCollection 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Spontaneous spinal subdural hematomas (SSH) are rare occurrences that can occur most commonly secondary to vascular malformations or coagulopathies. Only a small fraction of spontaneous SSHs are caused by acquired coagulation disorders such as leukemia, hemophilia, and thrombocytopenia. This case report describes a patient with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), hemophilia A, and mantle cell lymphoma, on zanubrutinib therapy, a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor associated with a risk of spontaneous hemorrhage. This patient developed a spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma, most likely due to the zanubrutinib therapy and exacerbated due to hemophilia. Treatment was delayed due to the patient's history of GBS that confounded the clinical diagnosis. This case is the first report of a spontaneous SSH in a patient on zanubrutinib, highlighting the need for a high index of suspicion for CNS hemorrhage in patients on Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor therapy.

Keywords: hemophilia; hemorrhage; mantle cell lymphoma; spinal subdural hematoma; zanubrutinib.

Publication types

  • Case Reports