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What is haemophilia?

Patient information

You can download the following files in PDF format :

Summary of Product Characteristics Prescribing Information Patient Information Leaflet

Home » Bayer and haemophilia » What is haemophilia?

Haemophilia is the name given to a variety of rare genetic blood clotting disorders. It affects primarily males who are missing some or all of the blood clotting proteins factor VIII or IX normally found in blood. Haemophilia A and B are the two most common forms of the disorder. Patients with haemophilia A, have either little or no clotting factor VIII. Patients with haemophilia B, have either little or no clotting factor IX. About 85% of those with haemophilia have haemophilia A; the rest have haemophilia B.

Haemophilia is a congenital disorder, and most people who have haemophilia A or B have a family history of the disorder, but in approximately 30% of cases it occurs by a spontaneous gene mutation.

Haemophilia A

About 5,600 people are affected with haemophilia A in the UK. The severity of haemophilia A is dependent upon the levels of factor VIII in the blood and is classified as mild, moderate or severe. For example, someone with less than 1% of normal levels in their blood is classified as having severe haemophilia, those with 1-5% moderate and 5-50% mild. 70% of haemophilia A patients are said to have severe haemophilia.

Mild
Someone with mild haemophilia will usually have few problems and will very rarely have spontaneous bleeds. In general they only need factor treatment after tooth extraction, surgery or after an injury.

Moderate
A moderate haemophiliac will rarely have spontaneous bleeds but can have bleeds after a minor bump or knock. As with mild haemophilia, they usually only need factor therapy for surgical procedures and after injury.

Severe
Severe haemophiliacs commonly have spontaneous bleeds, usually into joints, as well as excess bleeding following injury. Usually all surgical procedures require factor therapy. Treatment is also needed for all joint bleeds because otherwise they cause pain and joint damage which can lead to disability and impaired quality of life.

For general information on Haemophilia you can visit The Haemophilia Society website at www.haemophilia.org.uk

To download a copy of the "Introduction to Haemophilia" bookletclick here

For information on living with haemophilia go to www.FactorFitness.co.uk

Factor Fitness is a fun interactive site from Bayer HealthCare focusing on sports and fitness for people with haemophilia A. It contains comprehensive information on sports, exercise, nutrition and the maintenance of healthy joints.

 

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