Hemophilia is a hereditary condition that causes patients to experience atypical bleeding due to the lack of blood clotting proteins in the blood’s plasma. There are two distinct types of hemophilia.
Hemophilia A is a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a lack of blood clotting factor VIII. Patients with significant deficiencies in factor VIII will present more severe symptoms.
Hemophilia B is also a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a lack of blood clotting factor IX. Patients suffering from a factor IX deficiency are unable to properly clot blood and control their bleeding.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Because men carry one X-Chromosome, the likelihood of having Hemophilia is far greater in males as the deficiency in factor XIII and IX cannot be compensated by the second X-Chromosome (as it can in females).
All female children of men with hemophilia carry the defective gene. Genetic testing is available for concerned parents.
Risk factors include family history of bleeding and being male.
Symptoms
- Prolonged bleeding after circumcision (in some cases)
- Extreme bruising
- Swollen, painful and tender muscles and joints
- Gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract hemorrhaging
- Nosebleeds
- Excessive bleeding from cuts, tooth extraction and surgery
- Spontaneous bleeding
- Blood appearing in urine or stool
Medications
Contact us to learn more about the medications used for treatments.
