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Understanding Hemophilia
- Sina Amadi
- 20 hours ago
- 2 min read
Introduction
Hemophilia is typically an inherited bleeding disorder whereby blood doesn't clot properly, which can lead to bleeding subsequent to surgery or injuries and unprompted bleeding, in other words bleeding that happens for no apparent reason (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025, para. 1). Blood has many proteins which are called clotting factors that can help stop bleeding and depending on how much factor a person has in their blood is what determines the seriousness of their hemophilia (CDC, 2025, Overview).
Primary Types of Hemophilia
Hemophilia A and Hemophilia B, in which the former, also called classic hemophilia is caused by low level or lack of clotting factor VIII and the latter, also called Christmas disease is caused by low level or lack of clotting factor IX (CDC, 2025, Types).
Symptoms
Most common symptom is heavy and uncontrollable bleeding, which can be either internal or external (UMass Memorial Health, 2025, What are the symptoms of hemophilia?). Furthermore, the severity of hemophilia is determined by the amount of clotting factors in the blood (UMass Memorial Health, 2025, What are the symptoms of hemophilia?).
Complications
Inflammation of the joint lining, bleeding in the muscles or joints, long term joint difficulties, growth of antibodies (also called inhibitors) against clotting factors, infections as a result of transfusions (Hepatitis B & C, and HIV no longer spread via donated blood because of stern testing of blood donated), and pain caused by muscle or joint bleeds (The University of Washington [UW], 2025, What are the possible complications of hemophilia?).
Treatments
Treatment depends on the following: age, symptoms, severity of hemophilia, and general health (UW, 2025, How is hemophilia treated?). Also, the treatment's goal is to prevent bleeding complications; mainly joint and head bleeds (UW, 2025, How is hemophilia treated?).
Treatment may include the following: infusion of clotting factor concentrates into the vein, physical therapy and exercise, and blood transfusions (UW, 2025, How is hemophilia treated?)
References
1.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, March 5). About Hemophilia. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hemophilia/about/index.html
2.) Debora Cartagena/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). [Picture of Stethoscope that is laying on top
of a beige colored countertop]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=14543
3.) The University of Washington (2025). Hemophilia. UW Medicine.
4.) UMass Memorial Health (2025). Hemophilia. UMass Memorial Health. https://www.ummhealth.org/health-
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