American Liver Society

Hemophilia

Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder that affects 18,000 persons (primarily males) in the United States. The disorder results from deficiencies in blood clotting factors and can lead to spontaneous internal bleeding and bleeding following injuries or surgery. These bleeding episodes can cause severe joint damage, neurological damage, damage to other organ systems involved in the hemorrhage, and, in rare cases, death. Treating the bleeding episodes involves the prompt and proper use of clotting factor concentrates.

von Willebrand disease

The most common bleeding disorder is von Willebrand disease (vWD), which is found in approximately 1-2% of the U.S. population. VWD results from a deficiency or defect in the body's ability to make von Willebrand factor, a protein that helps blood clot. Although VWD occurs in men and women equally, women are more likely to notice the symptoms because of heavy or abnormal bleeding during their menstrual periods and after childbirth.

This page was last updated March 04, 2004

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hbd/hemophilia.htm

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