Introduction

Hemophilia is a rare genetic blood clotting disorder that primarily affects males. People living with hemophilia do not have enough of, or are missing, one of the blood clotting proteins naturally found in blood. Two of the most common forms of hemophilia are A and B. In persons with hemophilia A (also called classic hemophilia), clotting factor VIII is not present in sufficient amounts or is absent. In persons with hemophilia B (also called Christmas disease), clotting factor IX is not present in sufficient amounts or is absent. People with hemophilia do not bleed more profusely or bleed faster than normal; they bleed for a longer period of time.

Virtually all people who have hemophilia A or B are born with it. The …show more content…
However, these patients may not experience any other problems or symptoms of the

disorder. Many patients with mild hemophilia may not realize they have the disorder

until bleeding occurs due to a major event such as an accident or surgery.

The difference between symptoms for Factor VIII Deficiency (Hemophilia A) and Factor

IX Deficiency (Hemophilia B) is the degree of severity. Symptoms are often milder for

Factor IX Deficiency, due in part to the severity of the disorder. Severe Factor IX

Deficiency is less common. Many patients with Factor IX deficiency do not have

symptoms until stressed by surgery or trauma.

The goal of treatment for hemophilia is to prevent and/or reduce the frequency of

symptoms. Increasing factor levels to at least 5% of normal can cause symptoms of

severe hemophilia to improve to the level of moderate or even mild hemophilia. This can

be achieved with regular preventive infusions of factor.

More recent advances in hemophilia

The most significant advances in hemophilia treatment have been made in the last four decades. Baxter

Healthcare Corporation introduced the first commercially available plasma-derived factor concentrate in

the mid-1960s. This was a major advancement over earlier formulations, which contained much lower

concentrations of antihemophilic factor. In the early 1970s, home treatment of hemophilia became

widely available,