Haemophilia

Question 1

What is haemophilia?

Answer 1

Haemophilia is an X-linked recessive disorder of coagulation.

Question 2

What percentage of haemophilia patients have no family history of the condition?

Answer 2

Up to 30% of patients have no family history of the condition.

Question 3

What causes haemophilia A?

Answer 3

Haemophilia A is due to a deficiency of factor VIII.

Question 4

What is haemophilia B also known as?

Answer 4

Haemophilia B is also known as Christmas disease.

Question 5

What causes haemophilia B?

Answer 5

Haemophilia B is due to a lack of factor IX.

Question 6

What are some features of haemophilia?

Answer 6

Features include haemoarthroses, haematomas, and prolonged bleeding after surgery or trauma.

Question 7

What blood tests results are indicative of haemophilia?

Answer 7

Blood tests show prolonged APTT, while bleeding time, thrombin time, and prothrombin time are normal.

Question 8

What percentage of haemophilia A patients develop antibodies to factor VIII treatment?

Answer 8

Up to 10-15% of patients with haemophilia A develop antibodies to factor VIII treatment.