Haemophilia Foundation Australia

Frequently Asked Questions & Facts - Fast Facts

Haemophilia

• Haemophilia occurs in 1 in 6,000-10,000 males internationally.
• Currently in Australia there are approximately 2,000 people with varied degrees of severity.
• There are 2 types of Haemophilia:
  Haemophilia A (classical Haemophilia) is the most common type and caused by a deficiency of blood clotting factor VIII.
  Haemophilia B (Christmas Disease) is due to a deficiency of blood clotting factor IX.
• Bleeding is mostly internal into the joints and/or muscles and is spontaneous.
• Over time the bleeds can cause severe arthritis, chronic pain and disability.
• Treatment is given by injecting the missing clotting factor into veins. With appropriate treatment haemophilia can be managed effectively.
• Haemophilia is an inherited condition and occurs in families, however in 1/3 of cases it appears in families with no previous history of the disorder. The haemophilia gene is passed down from parent to child through generations. Men with haemophilia will pass the gene on to their daughters but not their sons. Women who carry the haemophilia gene can pass the haemophilia gene on to their sons and daughters. Sons with the gene will have haemophilia. Some women and girls who carry the gene may also experience bleeding problems.

Von Willebrand disorder

• von Willebrand disorder (vWD) is a related bleeding disorder which affects both men and women. This disorder is caused by a deficiency and/or malfunction of the von Willebrand factor.