HEMOPHILIA A

Overview & Facts

Hemophilia causes abnormal blood clotting leading to difficulty in stopping bleeding, both outside and inside the body.

  • Treatable and one can life fully with a proper treatment plan.
  • Different types of hemophilia exist. For hemophilia A, there is a lack or absence of factor VIII, which is important in the process of clot formation.
  • Can be classified as: mild, moderate, severe (dependent on amount of factor VIII absent).
  • Familial disease and is diagnosed in younger years (babies to young children).
  • Genetic in nature; familiar inheritance or through gene mutation
    • Acquired hemophilia A: rare and dangerous form; possibly related to pregnancy, cancer, or use of certain drugs.

Types & Symptoms

Main symptoms: bleeding more than usual and easy bruising.

Some examples are:

  • Nosebleeds for no reason
  • Profuse bleeding from small injuries
  • Bleeding from a cut or injury that begins again after stopping
  • Blood in urine or stool
  • Large bruises

Bleeding may also occur in the brain. If one notices a bump on the head — even if it a small one — and experiences one or more of the following symptoms, alert a physician:

  • Headache
  • Pain and stiffness of the neck
  • Vomiting
  • Feeling sleepy
  • Suddenly feeling weak; difficulty in walking

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

  • Consult a physician if one notices easy bruising or or bleeding longer than usual from small injuries.
  • Physician may get the history of the condition and ask questions about:
    • Patient’s concern and reason behind it
    • Cause of injury
    • Duration of bleeding
    • Medications being taken
    • Other medical concerns
    • Family medical history
  • Blood tests may be done, such as:
    • Complete blood count (CBC)
    • Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT) to check how long the blood takes to clot
    • Factor VIII (for hemophilia A) and factor IX (for hemophilia B) tests

 

RECOMMENDED MEDICATIONS

  • Factor VIII replacement therapy to control hemophilia
    • Factor VIII may come from human blood or from a lab
    • Can be self-administered or given at a clinic
    • If severe, treatment should be done regularly. For milder cases, treatment is done whenever necessary.

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