hemophilia B

hemophilia /he·mo·phil·ia/ (he″mo-fil´e-ah) a hereditary hemorrhagic diathesis due to deficiency of a blood coagulation factor.

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hemophilia A  classical h.; an X-linked recessive form due to deficiency of coagulation factor VIII.

hemophilia B  Christmas disease; an X-linked recessive form due to deficiency of coagulation factor IX.

hemophilia C  an autosomal disorder due to lack of coagulation factor XI; seen predominantly in persons of Jewish ancestry and characterized by minor bleeding, mild bruising, severe prolonged postsurgical bleeding, and abnormal clotting test times.

classical hemophilia  h. A.

vascular hemophilia  von Willebrand's disease.

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hemophilia B

n.

A clotting disorder of blood resembling hemophilia A, caused by hereditary deficiency of factor IX. Also called Christmas disease.

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hemophilia B,

a hereditary blood disorder, transmitted as an X-linked recessive trait and caused by a deficiency of factor IX, the plasma thromboplastin component. The condition is clinically similar to but less severe than hemophilia A. Also called Christmas disease. See coagulation factor, hemophilia.

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Christmas Disease

An X-linked recessive hemophilia, seen in 1/50,000 men, due to a defect in coagulation factor IX
Management Factor IX concentrates

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hemophilia [he″mo-fil´e-ah]

a hereditary disorder characterized by a strong tendency to bleed. The most common types are carried as sex-linked genes with females carrying the trait and disease manifestations almost always in males. (Occasionally, women carrying the trait for hemophilia A or B have bleeding manifestations themselves, probably as a result of nonrandom inactivation of their X chromosomes and overexpression of the X chromosome coding for hemophilia; these women are referred to as symptomatic carriers.) All daughters of affected men will be carriers for the gene of hemophilia.

The two most common types are hemophilia A and hemophilia B. Over 80 per cent of patients have hemophilia A (classical hemophilia), which is characterized by a deficiency of coagulation factor VIII. Hemophilia B (called also Christmas disease) affects about 15 per cent of hemophiliacs and is characterized by a deficiency of coagulation factor IX. Other coagulation factor deficiencies are less common, with patients suffering either milder bleeding or thrombotic episodes.

Symptoms. Bleeding in hemophilic patients is variable, depending on the level of deficiency of the clotting factor. Approximately 60 per cent of persons with hemophilia A or B are severely affected and may have spontaneous bleeding without any recognized trauma. Soft tissue bleeding from the neck, lower face, and tongue may cause grave consequences if not treated. Hematuria and gastrointestinal bleeding are likely, and hemarthrosis (bleeding into joints) can lead to painful stiffening and permanent disability. The leading cause of death, however, is intracranial bleeding. Hemorrhagic complications can be avoided or minimized with early and adequate factor replacement therapy.

Hemophilia A is characterized by a factor VIII level of from 0 to 30 per cent of normal. The partial thromboplastin time (PTT) is usually prolonged. The platelet count, bleeding time, and prothrombin time (PT) are normal. In hemophilia B there is a low factor IX level and the prothrombin time is usually prolonged.

Treatment. The treatment of persons with hemophilia depends on the severity of their disease and the nature of a given bleeding episode. Several therapeutic materials are available for correction of the clotting defect in hemophilia A. Factor VIII is present in commercial lyophilized factor VIII concentrates, cryoprecipitate, fresh whole blood, and fresh frozen plasma. Purified factor VIII concentrate, however, is the treatment of choice. Successful treatment of those with mild hemophilia A can often be done with desmopressin (DDAVP). While factor IX is present in fresh frozen plasma, it is not concentrated in cryoprecipitate, so that the latter is not useful for treatment of hemophilia B. Factor IX is present in two commercially prepared concentrates, known as factor IX complex concentrates and coagulation factor IX concentrates.

All persons with hemophilia should be immunized with hepatitis B vaccine. Suspected bleeding into the central nervous system must be promptly treated; when this happens, consultation with or transfer to a Hemophilia Treatment Center is mandatory. Early treatment of hemarthroses is essential for maintenance of joint health; infusions administered within 4 to 6 hours of onset of symptoms are sufficient to stop bleeding and restore joint function. Medically supervised home infusion therapy has become an integral part of the comprehensive care of patients with bleeding disorders and has facilitated the treatment of bleeding episodes outside the hospital setting.

Patient Care. Advances in therapy have greatly improved the prognosis and management of hemophilia, but new issues have emerged, including the impact on immune status of purer factor concentrates, escalating financial considerations, and therapeutics for infections with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and the human immunodeficiency virus. Multidisciplinary comprehensive care that incorporates patient and family educational strategies continues to be an essential element of care. Surgery and dental care require a team approach by individuals with specialized knowledge and expertise, in order to ensure favorable outcomes. A diagnosis of hemophilia presents many challenges, not the least of which are psychosocial issues.

Excellent sources of information for both professionals and nonprofessionals are the National Hemophilia Foundation, 110 Greene St., Suite 303, New York, NY 10012 (telephone 212-219-8180) and the Hemophilia and AIDS/HIV Network for the Dissemination of Information (“HANDI”) at the same address (telephone 800-42-HANDI).

hemophilia A classical hemophilia, a sex-linked condition due to deficiency of coagulation factor VIII; see hemophilia.

hemophilia B a form similar to hemophilia A but due to a deficiency of coagulation factor IX; called also Christmas disease. See hemophilia.

hemophilia C an inherited disorder caused by a lack of coagulation factor XI.. It has been observed mostly in persons of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry and is characterized by recurring episodes of minor bleeding and mild bruising, severe prolonged bleeding after surgical procedures, and prolonged recalcification and partial thromboplastin times. Called also plasma thromboplastin antecedent deficiency, PTA deficiency, and Rosenthal syndrome.

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hemophilia (bleeder's disease) (hē´mōfil´ē),

n a sex-linked genetic disease manifested in males and characterized by severe hemorrhage.

hemophilia A (classic hemophilia),

n a hemorrhagic diathesis resulting from a deficiency of antihemophilic globulin (AHG); inherited as a recessive sex-linked characteristic and characterized by recurrent bouts of bleeding from even trivial injury. The coagulation time is prolonged, but the bleeding time is normal.

hemophilia B (Christmas disease, hemophilia II, hemophilioid state C),

n a hemorrhagic diathesis resulting from a deficiency of plasma thromboplastin component (PTC); transmitted as a sex-linked recessive characteristic and characterized clinically by the same manifestations as classic hemophilia. There is a delay in the generation of thromboplastin. The platelet count, bleeding time, tourniquet test, and thrombin and prothrombin times are normal.

hemophilia C (plasma thromboplastin antecedent [PTA] deficiency, Rosenthal's syndrome),

n a hemophilia-like condition believed to result from a deficiency of plasma thromboplastin antecedent (PTA), transmitted as a simple autosomal dominant trait and characterized by a moderate bleeding tendency after extraction of teeth or after tonsillectomy. Prothrombin consumption and thromboplastin generation are abnormal. See also factor XI.

hemophilia, classic,

n See hemophilia A.

hemophilia, vascular,

n a hereditary hemorrhagic disorder affecting both sexes and associated with a deficiency of antihemophilic globulin and vascular abnormalities characteristic of pseudohemophilia (von Willebrand disease). The bleeding time is prolonged, and severity of bleeding varies considerably among persons with this condition.

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hemophilia

a condition characterized by impaired coagulability of the blood, and a strong tendency to bleed. See also deficiency of the following clotting factors, afibrinogenemia and hypoprothrombinemia, and proconvertin, stuart factor, plasma thromboplastin antecedent, hageman factor and fibrin stabilizing factor.

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hemophilia A

classical hemophilia, due to deficiency of clotting factor VIII-C; occurs in dogs, horses and cats and is transmitted by the female to the male as a sex-linked recessive abnormality.

hemophilia B

a form similar to classical hemophilia but due to a deficiency of clotting factor IX; called also christmas disease and factor IX deficiency. Occurs in dogs and cats.

hemophilia C

in dogs an autosomal dominant form due to deficiency of clotting factor XI (plasma thromboplastin antecedent). Called also factor XI deficiency. The disease also occurs in cattle but the clinical disease is minor and it is inherited as a recessive character.

double hemophilia

dogs with both hemophilia A and hemophilia B have been produced experimentally.

vascular hemophilia

deficiency of clotting factor VIII and factor VIII-related antigen occurs in many breeds of dogs, particularly Doberman Pinschers, and in rabbits and pigs. See also von willebrand's disease.

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hemophilia B

Christmas disease, factor IX hemophilia Hematology An X-R form of hemophilia caused by a defect in factor IX; it is clinically similar to hemophilia A, and often first manifest by hemarthrosis with joint destruction; these Pts are often infected with blood-borne viruses–eg, HBV, HCV, HIV, parvoviruses; with time, IgG antibodies may develop against factor IX. See Hemophilia. Cf Thalassemia.

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Patient discussion about hemophilia B.

Q. A christmas wish for each of you! To have all the presents in the world is not my desire for you! May your Christmas gift from me today be a sincere prayer that you will know: Peace that makes you sleep like a baby Joy that makes you laugh like a fool Happiness that lets you forget the size of your problems Hope that makes impossible dreams come true Love that makes you give from your heart Forgiveness when ‘you know not what you do”! Kindness that brings favor wherever you go And health that makes you act the age you choose.

A. Each and everyone of you is in my thoughts and prayers. I wish you each a happy holidays and hope for the best the world has to offer for each and every one of you in the new year.