Guide To Treating And Managing Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a disorder where the blood cannot clot the way it should. Clotting is slowed and patients will bleed quite a lot even after a small injury. Hemophilia A is the most common form, followed by hemophilia B. The reason patients do not clot properly and can experience sudden bleeding is that they are lacking either factor IX or VIII, which are two clotting factor proteins. In almost all cases, hemophilia is an inherited condition.

Hemophilia treatment depends on the type of hemophilia the patient is suffering from as well as the clotting factor they are lacking. The goal of all treatments for hemophilia, of course, is for the blood to clot properly. Thus, patients will see treatments such as clotting medication and manufactured clotting factors. They’ll also deal with lifestyle changes and physical therapy for hemophilia.

Clotting Replacement Therapy

Hemophilia patients often receive clothing replacement therapy with medicine that mimics the clotting factor they are missing. For individuals with hemophilia A, this is concentrated VIII medicine. Concentrated IX medicine is used for hemophilia B patients. In both cases, the medicine is given through a vein in the arm or a chest port.

Clotting replacement therapy is used regularly to prevent episodes of severe bleeding or on demand when bleeding occurs. Unfortunately, individuals can develop antibodies that attack the clotting medicine they are receiving, which means they will have to find another treatment. This occurs most often in hemophilia A.

Learn about the most common type of medication used to treat hemophilia next.

Clotting Medication

Patients will often be prescribed clothing medication to treat their condition and make life easier to manage. The most common medication prescribed for hemophilia A patients is desmopressin, which mimics a hormone called vasopressin. This stimulates the release of needed clotting factors in the blood. This includes the clotting factor that is responsible for platelet adhesion, called von Willebrand factor, which stops bleeding when a cut occurs. It is not used frequently as this can make it less effective. It is instead used when needed to reduce bleeding, such as before a patient goes in for dental work.

Get more information on how medication helps treat hemophilia now.