Common Questions About Hemophilia A
What is a bleeding disorder?
What is hemophilia A?
What is the incidence of hemophilia A?
How do you get hemophilia A?
What causes hemophilia A?
Who is at risk for hemophilia A?
What are the symptoms of hemophilia A?
How do I know if I have hemophilia A?
How is hemophilia A treated?
What are the different levels of hemophilia A?
Why are males more likely to have hemophilia A than females?
Can you get hemophilia A later in life?
Is hemophilia A contagious?
What is the difference between hemophilia A and hemophilia B?
What are inhibitors?
What is an HTC?
Are there support groups available for people with hemophilia A?
What is a bleeding disorder?
A bleeding disorder is a broad term for medical conditions that prevent blood from clotting properly, leading to such symptoms as prolonged bleeding and easy bruising. Bleeding disorders are also referred to as coagulopathy, abnormal bleeding and clotting disorders.
What is hemophilia A?
Hemophilia A (also known as factor VIII deficiency or classic hemophilia) is mainly an inherited bleeding disorder caused by a lack of a protein in the blood called factor VIII. This protein is necessary for proper blood clotting.
What is the incidence of hemophilia A?
About 1 in 5,000 males in the United States are born with hemophilia. Hemophilia A is the most common type of hemophilia, making up about 80% of cases. While it is very rare, females can be born with hemophilia if they have a male relative with the condition.
How do you get hemophilia A?
Most people with hemophilia A have a family history of hemophilia and are born with the condition. However, in about 30% of cases, there is no family history of the disorder and the condition happens as the result of a spontaneous gene mutation.
What causes hemophilia A?
Hemophilia A is caused by a shortage of a certain protein in blood called factor VIII, which is essential for normal blood clotting. When a blood vessel is injured, a clot is formed to seal cuts and breaks at the site of injury to stop the bleeding. A person with hemophilia A is unable to form blood cuts normally, leading to the prolonged bleeding and easy bruising seen in this disease.
Who is at risk for hemophilia A?
Hemophilia A is mainly inherited and usually only occurs in males, though in rare cases the disease also occurs in females. It is equally likely to affect people of all races and economic groups.
What are the symptoms of hemophilia A?
Common symptoms of hemophilia A include:
- Prolonged bleeding after an injury
- Easy bruising
- Bleeding in the mouth from a cut or bite or from losing a tooth
- Heavy nosebleeds for no obvious reason
- Heavy bleeding from a minor cut
- Cuts that bleed again after they have already stopped for a short time
How do I know if I have hemophilia A?
If you are experiencing symptoms like prolonged bleeding or easy bruising, talk to your doctor. He or she will ask you about your personal and family medical history and will perform a physical examination. Your doctor will likely also run tests to determine the levels of factor VIII in your blood.
How is hemophilia A treated?
Hemophilia A is mainly treated by increasing the level of factor VIII in the blood. This can be achieved with replacement therapy, treatments that contain actual proteins to replace the ones that are missing.
Local clotting agents (antifibrinolytics) are another type of treatment for hemophilia A. They help protect clots and hold them in place and are often used in combination with other medicines.
What are the different levels of hemophilia A?
There are different levels of hemophilia A — mild, moderate, and severe. It is important to know which level you have, since determining the proper treatment will depend on severity of your condition.
Why are males more likely to have hemophilia A than females?
The genes that determine how the body makes blood clotting factor VIII are located on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y chromosome. Only the X chromosome carries the genes related to clotting factors.
A male who has the abnormal gene on his X chromosome will have hemophilia. A female must have the abnormal gene on both of her X chromosomes to have hemophilia, which is very rare.
Can you get hemophilia A later in life?
Yes, in rare cases, hemophilia can be acquired rather than inherited. This usually happens in older adults and is typically caused by an autoimmune disorder, cancer or reaction to certain drugs.
Is hemophilia A contagious?
No, hemophilia A is not contagious.
What is the difference between hemophilia A and hemophilia B?
Hemophilia A is the result of a deficiency in clotting factor VIII, while hemophilia B is the result of a deficiency in clotting factor IX.
What are inhibitors?
Inhibitors are a complication of hemophilia A that affects about one-third to one-fifth of people with severe hemophilia A. Inhibitors develop as a result of an abnormal immune response to replacement therapy. The main symptom of inhibitors is bleeding that does not stop after treatment with factor concentrate.
The risk of inhibitor development is higher if someone in the patient's family also has an inhibitor and is more frequent among African Americans.
What is an HTC?
An HTC, or hemophilia treatment center, is a clinic where medical experts and other specialists work together to provide specialized care, education and support to people with bleeding disorders. The healthcare teams at HTCs include pediatricians, adult and pediatric hematologists (doctors who specialize in bleeding disorders), nurses, social workers, physical therapists and dentists.
There are more than 100 federally funded HTCs throughout the United States. Locate an HTC in your area
Are there support groups available for people with hemophilia A?
Yes, a number of support groups are available for people with bleeding disorders and their loved ones. Some of the
National Hemophilia Foundation's Chapter Centers offer support groups. You can also find a support group at a
hemophilia treatment center (HTC) near you.
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Last Updated:
7/13/2009 11:15 AM