Hemophilia A Health Article

Complications

• Chronic joint deformities, caused by recurrent bleeding into the joint, may be managed by an orthopedic specialist. These problems sometimes require joint replacement.
• Recurrent transfusions may increase the risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis. Since 1985, however, blood screening procedures were improved for detecting the HIV virus. And new heat processing treatment makes factor VIII material free of the HIV virus and thus safe for use.
• Intracerebral hemorrhage is another possible complication (see deep intracerebral hemorrhage, lobar intracerebral hemorrhage).

Calling your health care provider

• If symptoms of a bleeding disorder develops
• (Call for screening) if a family member has been diagnosed with hemophilia A
• If you have hemophilia A and you plan to have children

Prevention

• Genetic counseling
• Prenatal intrauterine diagnosis with termination of pregnancy as an option

References

Roberts HR. Hemophilia A and Hemophilia B. In: Lichtman, MA, et al., eds. Williams Hematology. 7th ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.; 2006:chap 115.