complications of Hemophilia

   1)      JOINT DAMAGE

v    Joint damage or also called as Hemophilia Arthopathy is most common complication of  bleeding in hemophilia. Individuals with hemophilia can bleed into the joint space after an injury, at times or sometimes without any clear cause. Not only that, this joint damage may occur after repeated bleeding into the same joint or after serious bleeding at the joint. The blood filling pressure at the joint cavity which causes a symbolic pain that leads to chronic swelling and deformity.

The joint damage occurs in the cartilage of around the bones and also the synovium. When there is blood flowing in the joint, the synovium will absorbs it and the blood containing iron actually causes the lining of synovium to grow thicker. The bleeding will affect the cartilage around the bone area which has the smooth surface on the ends of the bones and allows both bones connecting each other to move without any friction. The rubbing of bones becomes more painful as the cartilage erodes and becomes pitted. Joints that bleed are usually referred to as “target joints” and as the join damage continues, the movement may become more restricted in that joint. The common symptoms when joint bleeds are swelling, pain, loss of motion, stiffness and tingling inside the joint.

   2)      INHIBITORS

v    Complications of bleeding in hemophilia may also arise from the inhibitors in the body. Inhibitors are antibodies that the immune system develops because of the infused clotting factors act as foreign substance that need to be destroyed. Besides that, an estimated of 20 to 30% of individuals are affected by inhibitors as result with severe hemophilia A. This is much likely to occur with mild or moderate hemophilia A approximately of 5 to 8%. About 2 to 3 % of individuals with hemophilia B develop inhibitors and hemophilia B is less common than hemophilia A. The risk factors to type and severity of hemophilia are family history of an inhibitor, age of exposure to factor product and gene mutation.

   3)      INFECTIONS

v    Infections are one of the complications of bleeding in hemophilia. Approximately 90% of individuals with severe hemophilia usually were infected with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), Hepatitis and blood-borne infections.