Iliopsoas bleeds in patients with hemophilia: A single-center experience from South India

Background: Iliopsoas bleed is a serious complication in people with hemophilia (PWH), with significant morbidity. Studies examining the profile, incidence, and outcomes in psoas bleeds are scarce and will shed more light and increase awareness about its management. Material and Methods: Data of 453 PWH with confirmed iliopsoas bleed treated at Bangalore Medical College were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Eighty-five (18.8%) PWH presented with total of 154 psoas bleeds. Their mean age was 21.96 years. Common symptoms were thigh/hip/groin pain (100.0%), hip flexion spasm (41.2%), numbness/tingling in quadriceps muscle (5.9%), abdominal tenderness (3.5%), hematuria, and anemia requiring blood transfusion in 2.4% each. Long-term complications were quadriceps atrophy (9.4%), permanent abnormal posture (10.6%), transient paresthesia in the distribution of femoral nerve (3.5%), and pseudo tumor in pelvis (1.2%). The overall average duration of therapy with clotting factor concentrate was 1.7 days with a mean duration of therapy of 1.4 days in patients without inhibitors and 2.8 days in patients with inhibitors (p = 0.010). The overall mean duration of hospitalization was 7.2 days with 5.3 days in PWH without inhibitors and 8.3 days in PWH with inhibitors (p = 0.342). Conclusion: Pain in hip joint/groin/hip flexion spasm suggests the possibility of an iliopsoas hematoma and early factor replacement therapy should be started to prevent complications. Early treatment at first sign of discomfort reduces the duration of treatment, and prevents severe complication and invasive interventions. Patients with inhibitors were overrepresented in the cohort who needed longer duration of factor replacement therapy.