About Hemophilia

Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder that prevents the blood from clotting normally. The main symptom is uncontrolled, often spontaneous bleeding. Internal bleeding into the joints can result in pain, swelling and, if left untreated, can cause permanent damage.

Hemophilia results from the deficiency of one more proteins known as blood clotting factors. There are 13 clotting proteins in the body, all of which contribute to the formation of a clot. The two main forms are hemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency) and hemophilia B (factor IX deficiency). Hemophilia occurs in 1 in 5,000 live male births, of these 80% is hemophilia A and 20% is hemophilia B. The worldwide incidence of hemophilia is estimated at more than 400,000 people. Approximately 70% of people around the world do not have access to treatment.

• Currently, there is no cure for hemophilia. While treatment exists, it is costly and may require lifelong infusion of replacement clotting factor that is manufactured either from human plasma or using recombinant technology. Hemophilia occurs predominately in males. Women are carriers of the defective gene and may experience mild symptoms. In about one-third of cases there is no known family history of hemophilia. Instead, the disorder results from a spontaneous genetic mutation.
• Nearly 90% of Americans with severe hemophilia became infected with HIV in the 1980s when the nation’s blood supply was contaminated by blood pooled from people infected by HIV/AIDS. More than 50% of people with hemophilia infected with HIV have died. Since 1986, there have been no reported cases of HIV transmission through factor concentrates in the U.S. Current donor screening measures and improved viral inactivation methods have been integrated into the manufacturing process to dramatically improve the safety of these plasma-derived products.