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Hemophilia A is the most common type of hemophilia, affecting 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 males worldwide. Hemophilia B is less common; it affects 1 in 20,000 to 34,500 males worldwide.
Other names for hemophilia include:
Hemophilia A
- Classic hemophilia
- Factor 8 (VIII) deficiency.
Hemophilia B
- Christmas disease
- Factor 9 (IX) deficiency.
Key information about the condition includes the following:
- It is a rare, inherited bleeding disorder.
- In the United States, approximately 400 babies are born with hemophilia each year.
- The disease almost always occurs in males.
- People born with hemophilia have problems with certain proteins in the blood, which are called clotting factors. Clotting factors help blood clot.
- It can occur if there is a low level of clotting factors or if there is a clotting factor that is completely missing.
- When clotting factors are missing, or your body does not have enough clotting factors, it can take a long time for your blood to clot after an injury or accident. Bleeding often occurs internally.
- There are two main types of hemophilia: A and B. People with hemophilia A have low levels of clotting factor 8 or are missing it altogether. People with hemophilia B have low levels of clotting factor 9 or are missing it altogether.
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD