Hemophilia

Hemophilia is an inherited disorder in which the blood does not clot normally because there is a lack of certain clotting factors. There are two main types of hemophilia: hemophilia A (the most common type) and hemophilia B. While hemophilia usually occurs only in males, there are rare exceptions in which a female will have the blood disorder. Symptoms of hemophilia include bleeding (which may occur internally in joints and muscles) and bruising. Treatment for hemophilia most often involves replacement therapy, in which the clotting factor missing in people with the disease is replaced.

 

What Is Hemophilia?

Hemophilia is a rare, inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot normally.
 People who have hemophilia may bleed for a longer period of time following an injury or accident. People with hemophilia may also bleed internally, especially in the joints (such as the knees, ankles, and elbows).
 
Approximately 18,000 people in the United States have hemophilia, and about 400 babies are born each year with this disorder in the U.S. Although hemophilia usually occurs only in males, there are very rare exceptions in which a female will have the blood disorder.
 
People with hemophilia have problems with certain proteins in their blood, called clotting factors. Clotting factors help blood to clot. Hemophilia can occur if there is a low level of one of the clotting factors or if a clotting factor 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.
 
(Hemophilia Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD