Haemophilia

'Haemophilia' is a term referring to a group of genetically transmitted life-long blood clotting disorders which are caused by a defect in one or more of the plasma clotting factors. The most common are sex-linked recessive disorders, haemophilia A (classic haemophilia) and haemophilia B (Christmas disease), which are due to an isolated deficiency of the clotting activity of factor VIII or of factor IX, respectively. People with these disorders suffer bleeding into soft tissues, for example, joints, muscles or internal organs, which can happen after trauma or spontaneously. These bleeds can be very painful, and repeated episodes lead to weakening and crippling of joints. Bleeds into internal organs and the brain can be life-threatening. There is no cure for haemophilia.