5 things to know about what’s new in hemophilia

From new longer-acting drugs to promising gene therapy trials, much is changing in the treatment of hemophilia, the inherited bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot. I will mark Hemophilia Awareness Month by discussing research and treatment progress, as well as remaining challenges. 1. Many more treatment products are being introduced, including some that last longer. In people with hemophilia, a “factor” — or blood protein that helps normal clots form — is missing or defective. Of the approximately 20,000 people with hemophilia in the U.S., about 80 percent suffer from hemophilia A, which is caused by an abnormally low level of factor VIII, and most of the rest have hemophilia B, caused by abnormally low levels of factor IX. Many patients with severe hemophilia give themselves intravenous infusions of the missing factor to prevent bleeding, which can otherwise lead to crippling joint disease when blood seeps into the joint and the enzymes released from blood cells erode the cartilage. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Conditions Hematology Source Type: blogs