To understand hemophilia, it’s helpful to know how the body normally works when it comes to stopping a bleed. When a person bleeds, 13 different proteins—called clotting factors—work together to form a blood clot.
In people living with hemophilia, one of the clotting factors is missing or reduced, which prevents this process from working. They have trouble forming blood clots—so it’s harder to stop bleeds when they happen.
Most people living with hemophilia are born with it. In the majority of these cases, it is passed to a child from the mother’s side of the family. Sometimes, a person may develop hemophilia without any family history. In fact, nearly one-third of hemophilia cases are not inherited and have no family history of the disease.
All people who have hemophilia are diagnosed at birth.
Due to a lack of bleeding at birth or because the family doesn’t have a history of hemophilia, some people who have hemophilia are not diagnosed as newborns.
All people who have hemophilia are diagnosed at birth.
Due to a lack of bleeding at birth or because the family doesn’t have a history of hemophilia, some people who have hemophilia are not diagnosed as newborns.
of people with hemophilia have hemophilia A. Also known as Factor VIII (8) deficiency, it is caused by a lack of the clotting factor known as Factor VIII.
of people with hemophilia have hemophilia B. Also called Factor IX (9) deficiency, it’s caused by a lack of—you guessed it—Factor IX.
Mild hemophilia means a factor VIII or IX level ranging from 5% up to 40% of normal blood levels
Moderate hemophilia refers to factor VIII or IX level ranging from 1% up to 5% of normal blood levels
Severe hemophilia means a person has a factor VIII or IX level below 1% of normal blood levels
Along with hemophilia A and B, 15 other bleeding disorders have been identified. What makes them different? Here’s an overview of each one:
See how other people with hemophilia assessed their treatment burden, learn about areas of research in treatment and administration, and access resources.
It’s a myth that only males are affected by hemophilia. Learn more about how women can be, too.
See how other people with hemophilia assessed their treatment burden, learn about areas of research in treatment and administration, and access resources.
It’s a myth that only males are affected by hemophilia. Learn more about how women can be, too.
