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Coagulation and Long History Hemophilia Essay

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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…

Because blood does not clot

when it should, patients experience frequent and excessive bleeding. The degree to

which bleeding occurs depends in part on the severity of the disorder. Patients can

have severe, moderate or mild hemophilia.

A hallmark of severe hemophilia is spontaneous bleeding. In these cases, bleeding

occurs without any recognizable trauma. Bleeding can occur in any part of the body.

However, spontaneous bleeds are unusual in the joints of the fingers, wrists, feet and

spine. Spontaneous bleeds are most common in the knees, ankles, elbows and

shoulders. Repeated bleeding into the joints is called hemarthrosis.

Hemarthrosis usually begins after the child begins to walk. As the bleeding begins, the

person may experience a warmth or tingling in the joint. As bleeding progresses, there

is usually a feeling of stiffness, fullness, and pain. The joint swells and may be warm

and tender. Bleeding into the joint limits the ability to move the joint. If not treated,

hemarthrosis can cause chronic joint problems.

Severe hemophilia can cause bleeding from circumcision. Bruising often occurs after

injections in infants. As the child becomes more active, excessive bruising occurs.

Excessive bleeding also occurs when teeth are pulled or other trauma occurs.

Symptoms of moderate hemophilia are the same as those for severe hemophilia with

one exception. Spontaneous bleeding is rare in moderate hemophilia. When

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