Myths аbout hemophilia

Hemophilia is a genetically caused hemorrhagic disorder that arises from a deficiency of factors VIII or (and) IX of blood coagulation with normal activity of von Willebrand factor. The World Hemophilia Day is celebrated annually on April 17 at the initiative of the World Federation of Hemophilia and the World Health Organization. Today Genetics-info dispels the most popular hemophilia myths.

Myth №1: If a person with hemophilia gets cut, he will bleed to death

A small cut, scratch, domestic injury, usually, do not pose a serious danger to patients with hemophilia. Bleeding can be stopped independently with the same methods that are effective for healthy people. At the same time, often, patients with hemophilia have an initial stop of bleeding that anticipates later. Moreover, bleeding in hemophilia can occur after a small injury that does not correspond to the severity of the hemorrhagic manifestation. In this case, doctors talk about "spontaneous" hemorrhages and bleeding.

Myth №2: Hemophilia only affects men

Indeed, hemophilia A and B affects almost exclusively men because the gene for hemophilia is linked to the sex chromosome X. But women who carry the mutation gene can have hemorrhagic manifestations. In this case, they are also considered to be hemophiliacs.

Myth №3: People with hemophilia have a short life expectancy

In the past the disability rate of patients with hemophilia reached 90%, but today in Russia and in developed nations patients with hemophilia can live a full life. And thanks to treatment and prevention patients with hemophilia can expect to have a virtually normal life expectancy.

Myth №4: Hemophilia cannot be cured

Today hemophilia A and B are treated with concentrates of the corresponding blood clotting factors. In addition, in the past few years, clinical trials of gene therapy methods for the treatment of hemophilia have been conducted. It means that it will be possible to create radical ways to treat hemophilia in the future.

Myth №5: People with hemophilia always have a family history of the disease

Hemophilia is usually inherited. But in about one-third of cases the sporadic (random) mutations of genes encoding factors VIII and IX can occur.