MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Hemophilia

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Hemophilia

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition Symptoms Exams and Tests	Treatment Support Groups Outlook (Prognosis) References

Illustrations

Blood clots

Definition Return to top

Hemophilia refers to a group of bleeding disorders in which it takes a long time for the blood to clot. This may cause abnormal bleeding. In most cases, the disorder is passed down through families (inherited) and most often affects males.

Related topics:

Symptoms Return to top

The main symptom of hemophilia is bleeding. Mild cases may go unnoticed until later in life, when they occur in response to surgery or trauma. Internal bleeding may occur anywhere. Bleeding into joints is common.

Exams and Tests Return to top

Most often, hemophilia is diagnosed after a person has a bleeding episode or there is known family history of the condition.

Treatment Return to top

Standard treatment involves replacing the missing clotting factor.

Support Groups Return to top

See: Hemophilia - Resources

Outlook (Prognosis) Return to top

Most people with hemophilia are able to lead relatively normal lives. A small percentage of people with hemophilia may die from loss of blood.

References Return to top

Rakel P, ed. Conn’s Current Therapy 2006. 58th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2006; 510-517.

Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2005:655-656.

Update Date: 2/6/2007

Updated by: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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