BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHemophilia AFactor VIII deficiency; Classic hemophilia; Bleeding disorder - hemophilia AHemophilia A is a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a lack of blood clotting factor VIII. Without enough factor VIII, the blood cannot clot properly to control bleeding.Bleeding disorderBleeding disorders are a group of conditions in which there is a problem with the body's blood clotting process. These disorders can lead to heavy a...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes When you bleed, a series of reactions take place in the body that helps blood clots form. This process is called the coagulation cascade. It involves special proteins called coagulation, or clotting, factors. You may have a higher chance of excess bleeding if one or more of these factors are missing or are not functioning like they should.Factor VIII (eight) is one such coagulation factor. Hemophilia A is the result of the body not making enough factor VIII.Hemophilia A is caused by an inherited X-linked recessive trait, with the defective gene located on the X chromosome. Females have two copies of the X chromosome. So if the factor VIII gene on one chromosome does not work, the gene on the other chromosome can do the job of making enough factor VIII. X-linked recessiveSex-linked diseases are passed down through families through one of the X or Y chromosomes. X and Y are sex chromosomes. Dominant inheritance occur...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Males have only one X chromosome. If the factor VIII gene is missing on a boy's X chromosome, he will have hemophilia A. For this reason, most people with hemophilia A are male.If a woman has a defective factor VIII gene, she is considered a carrier. This means the defective gene can be passed down to her children. Boys born to such women have a 50% chance of having hemophilia A. Their daughters have a 50% chance of being a carrier. All female children of men with hemophilia carry the defective gene. Risk factors for hemophilia A include: Family history of bleeding Being male Symptoms Severity of symptoms vary. Prolonged bleeding is the main symptom. It is often first seen when an infant is circumcised. Other bleeding problems usually show up when the infant starts crawling and walking.BleedingBleeding is the loss of blood. Bleeding may be:Inside the body (internal)Outside the body (external)Bleeding may occur:Inside the body when blood le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Mild cases may go unnoticed until later in life. Symptoms may first occur after surgery or injury. Internal bleeding may occur anywhere.Symptoms can include:Bleeding into joints with associated pain and swelling SwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood in the urine or stool Blood in the urineBlood in your urine is called hematuria. The amount may be very small and only detected with urine tests or under a microscope. In other cases, the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bruising BruisingBleeding into the skin can occur from broken blood vessels that form tiny red dots (called petechiae). Blood also can collect under the tissue in la...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract bleeding Nosebleeds Prolonged bleeding from cuts, tooth extraction, and surgery Bleeding that starts without cause Exams and Tests If you are the first person in the family to have a suspected bleeding disorder, your health care provider will order a series of tests called a coagulation study. Once the specific defect has been identified, other people in your family will need tests to diagnose the disorder.Tests to diagnose hemophilia A include:Prothrombin time Prothrombin timeProthrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures the time it takes for the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot. It measures the functio...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) PTTPartial thromboplastin time (PTT) is a blood test that looks at how long it takes for blood to clot. It can help tell if you have a bleeding problem...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Serum factor VIII activityFactor VIII activityThe factor VIII assay is a blood test to measure the activity of factor VIII. This is one of the proteins in the body that helps the blood clot....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment includes replacing the missing clotting factor. You will receive factor VIII concentrates. How much you get depends on: Severity of bleeding Site of bleeding Your weight and height Mild hemophilia may be treated with desmopressin (DDAVP). This medicine helps the body release factor VIII that is stored within the lining of blood vessels.To prevent a bleeding crisis, people with hemophilia and their families can be taught to give factor VIII concentrates at home at the first signs of bleeding. People with severe forms of the disease may need regular preventive treatment.DDAVP or factor VIII concentrate may also be needed before having dental extractions or surgery.You should get the hepatitis B vaccine. People with hemophilia are more likely to get hepatitis B because they may receive blood products.Hepatitis B vaccineAll content below is taken in its entirety from the CDC Hepatitis B Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): www. cdc. gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statement...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Some people with hemophilia A develop antibodies to factor VIII. These antibodies are called inhibitors. The inhibitors attack factor VIII so that it no longer works. In such cases, a man-made clotting factor called VIIa can be given.AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Support Groups You can ease the stress of illness by joining a hemophilia support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.Hemophilia support groupThe following organizations provide further information on hemophilia:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- www. cdc. gov/ncbddd/hemophilia/i...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) With treatment, most people with hemophilia A are able to lead a fairly normal life.If you have hemophilia A, you should have regular checkups with a hematologist. Possible Complications Complications may include:Long-term joint problems, which may require a joint replacement Bleeding in the brain (intracerebral hemorrhage) Blood clots due to treatment When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:Symptoms of a bleeding disorder develops A family member has been diagnosed with hemophilia A You have hemophilia A and you plan to have children; genetic counseling is available Prevention Genetic counseling may be recommended. Testing can identify women and girls who carry the hemophilia gene. Identify women and girls who carry the hemophilia gene.Testing can be done during pregnancy on a baby in the mother's womb.Open ReferencesReferencesCarcao M, Moorehead P, Lillicrap D. Hemophilia A and B. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 135.Scott JP, Flood VH. Hereditary clotting factor deficiencies (bleeding disorders). In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 503.AllVideoImagesTogBlood clots - illustration Blood clots (fibrin clots) are the clumps that result when blood coagulates.Blood clotsillustrationBlood clots - illustration Blood clots (fibrin clots) are the clumps that result when blood coagulates.Blood clotsillustrationRelated Information Hemophilia(Condition)Bleeding disorders(Condition)Sex-linked recessive(Special Topic)Chronic(Special Topic)HIV/AIDS(Condition)Hepatitis(Condition)Hepatitis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/25/2022 Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Hemophilia AFactor VIII deficiency; Classic hemophilia; Bleeding disorder - hemophilia AHemophilia A is a hereditary bleeding disorder caused by a lack of blood clotting factor VIII. Without enough factor VIII, the blood cannot clot properly to control bleeding.Bleeding disorderBleeding disorders are a group of conditions in which there is a problem with the body's blood clotting process. These disorders can lead to heavy a...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes When you bleed, a series of reactions take place in the body that helps blood clots form. This process is called the coagulation cascade. It involves special proteins called coagulation, or clotting, factors. You may have a higher chance of excess bleeding if one or more of these factors are missing or are not functioning like they should.Factor VIII (eight) is one such coagulation factor. Hemophilia A is the result of the body not making enough factor VIII.Hemophilia A is caused by an inherited X-linked recessive trait, with the defective gene located on the X chromosome. Females have two copies of the X chromosome. So if the factor VIII gene on one chromosome does not work, the gene on the other chromosome can do the job of making enough factor VIII. X-linked recessiveSex-linked diseases are passed down through families through one of the X or Y chromosomes. X and Y are sex chromosomes. Dominant inheritance occur...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Males have only one X chromosome. If the factor VIII gene is missing on a boy's X chromosome, he will have hemophilia A. For this reason, most people with hemophilia A are male.If a woman has a defective factor VIII gene, she is considered a carrier. This means the defective gene can be passed down to her children. Boys born to such women have a 50% chance of having hemophilia A. Their daughters have a 50% chance of being a carrier. All female children of men with hemophilia carry the defective gene. Risk factors for hemophilia A include: Family history of bleeding Being male Symptoms Severity of symptoms vary. Prolonged bleeding is the main symptom. It is often first seen when an infant is circumcised. Other bleeding problems usually show up when the infant starts crawling and walking.BleedingBleeding is the loss of blood. Bleeding may be:Inside the body (internal)Outside the body (external)Bleeding may occur:Inside the body when blood le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Mild cases may go unnoticed until later in life. Symptoms may first occur after surgery or injury. Internal bleeding may occur anywhere.Symptoms can include:Bleeding into joints with associated pain and swelling SwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood in the urine or stool Blood in the urineBlood in your urine is called hematuria. The amount may be very small and only detected with urine tests or under a microscope. In other cases, the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bruising BruisingBleeding into the skin can occur from broken blood vessels that form tiny red dots (called petechiae). Blood also can collect under the tissue in la...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract bleeding Nosebleeds Prolonged bleeding from cuts, tooth extraction, and surgery Bleeding that starts without cause Exams and Tests If you are the first person in the family to have a suspected bleeding disorder, your health care provider will order a series of tests called a coagulation study. Once the specific defect has been identified, other people in your family will need tests to diagnose the disorder.Tests to diagnose hemophilia A include:Prothrombin time Prothrombin timeProthrombin time (PT) is a blood test that measures the time it takes for the liquid portion (plasma) of your blood to clot. It measures the functio...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) PTTPartial thromboplastin time (PTT) is a blood test that looks at how long it takes for blood to clot. It can help tell if you have a bleeding problem...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Serum factor VIII activityFactor VIII activityThe factor VIII assay is a blood test to measure the activity of factor VIII. This is one of the proteins in the body that helps the blood clot....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment includes replacing the missing clotting factor. You will receive factor VIII concentrates. How much you get depends on: Severity of bleeding Site of bleeding Your weight and height Mild hemophilia may be treated with desmopressin (DDAVP). This medicine helps the body release factor VIII that is stored within the lining of blood vessels.To prevent a bleeding crisis, people with hemophilia and their families can be taught to give factor VIII concentrates at home at the first signs of bleeding. People with severe forms of the disease may need regular preventive treatment.DDAVP or factor VIII concentrate may also be needed before having dental extractions or surgery.You should get the hepatitis B vaccine. People with hemophilia are more likely to get hepatitis B because they may receive blood products.Hepatitis B vaccineAll content below is taken in its entirety from the CDC Hepatitis B Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): www. cdc. gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statement...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Some people with hemophilia A develop antibodies to factor VIII. These antibodies are called inhibitors. The inhibitors attack factor VIII so that it no longer works. In such cases, a man-made clotting factor called VIIa can be given.AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Support Groups You can ease the stress of illness by joining a hemophilia support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.Hemophilia support groupThe following organizations provide further information on hemophilia:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- www. cdc. gov/ncbddd/hemophilia/i...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) With treatment, most people with hemophilia A are able to lead a fairly normal life.If you have hemophilia A, you should have regular checkups with a hematologist. Possible Complications Complications may include:Long-term joint problems, which may require a joint replacement Bleeding in the brain (intracerebral hemorrhage) Blood clots due to treatment When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if:Symptoms of a bleeding disorder develops A family member has been diagnosed with hemophilia A You have hemophilia A and you plan to have children; genetic counseling is available Prevention Genetic counseling may be recommended. Testing can identify women and girls who carry the hemophilia gene. Identify women and girls who carry the hemophilia gene.Testing can be done during pregnancy on a baby in the mother's womb.Open ReferencesReferencesCarcao M, Moorehead P, Lillicrap D. Hemophilia A and B. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 135.Scott JP, Flood VH. Hereditary clotting factor deficiencies (bleeding disorders). In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 503.