About Hemophilia Rare Bleeding Disorders
Hemophilia is perhaps the best-known example of a bleeding disorder, but there are other forms of bleeding disorders that are characterized by deficient or missing clotting factor proteins.
About Bleeding Disorders: Two Categories
Bleeding disorders can be divided into two major categories:
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Factor deficiencies:1 Clotting factors are specialized proteins circulating in the blood. These factors work together in a chain reaction to form clots. If even one of these factors is missing or deficient, clotting is impaired. Specifically, a deficiency of factor VIII results in hemophilia A, while deficiencies of factor IX and factor XI leads to hemophilia B and hemophilia C, respectively. To learn more, see Factor Deficiencies.
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Platelet disorders:2 Platelets are small protein-containing cell fragments/cells that circulate in the blood. They play an important role in clotting by clumping together and forming a plug. Clotting factors then take over, working together to hold the plug in place. In platelet disorders, bleeding generally occurs immediately following injury, primarily in the skin and mucous membranes including those of the mouth, nose, gastrointestinal tract, and uterus. Unlike hemophilia, platelet disorders generally do not typically involve deep bleeding (in joints and muscles, for example). To learn more, see Platelet Disorders.
Because there are no commercially available purified factor concentrates, many rare bleeding disorders are treated with fresh frozen plasma or other alternative sources of clotting factors. For treatment recommendations, please consult your physician and/or treatment center. Additional information also can be found on the websites of the National Hemophilia Foundation and the World Federation of Hemophilia, and the Canadian Hemophilia Society.
Find More Help And Resources Here
- Learn how to do the 5!
- View the emergency room checklist.
- More information about sports & exercise.
- Want to connect to the hemophilia community?
- Proactively manage your health insurance.
To learn more about rare bleeding disorders, see Bleeding Disorders.
For more information on rare disorders, visit www.rarediseases.org.
Note: ThereForYou.com does not recommend a particular treatment for specific individuals and recommends that you consult your treatment center or physician before pursuing any course of treatment.
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References
- Frequently Asked Questions About Hemophilia. World Federation of Hemophilia website. http://www.wfh.org/2/1/1_1_1_FAQ.htm. Accessed June 8, 2011.
- Platelet Function Disorders. World Federation of Hemophilia website. http://www.wfh.org/2/docs/Publications/Monographs/TOH-19-Platelet-Function-Disorders-Revision2008.pdf. Accessed June 8, 2011.
