{"id":9371,"date":"2019-08-08T07:53:27","date_gmt":"2019-08-08T07:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=9371"},"modified":"2021-04-22T16:53:38","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T16:53:38","slug":"15-prevailing-causes-of-hemophilia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-prevailing-causes-of-hemophilia\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Prevailing Causes of Hemophilia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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There are a variety of bleeding disorders, and by far, the most prevalent, is hemophilia; however, while it is the most common bleeding disorder, it is still considered a rare condition. Hemophilia isn\u2019t a single disease; rather, it is a collection of disorders. Generally, hemophilia is a genetic disorder, meaning that the genes that are responsible for blood clotting become deformed, and as a result, they become defective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In rare cases, however, hemophilia can be an acquired disorder and occurs as a result of autoimmune disease; the immune system attacks blood clotting factors. In all cases of hemophilia, excessive bleeding is the most common symptom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other symptoms can include unexplained, excessive and severe bruising, and pain and stiffness in the joints. Hemophilia is a serious condition, and while there is no cure, it can be managed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below, we\u2019ll look at some eight of the most common causes of hemophilia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Inheritance. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Usually, hemophilia <\/a>is inherited; it is passed down through bloodlines. Someone who has hemophilia can pass the bleeding disorder on to their child. The condition occurs as a result of a genetic mutation, and this mutation is passed on to future generations. Every person has two sex chromosomes; one comes from their mother and one comes from their father, and these chromosomes are either X or Y. Males have one X and one Y chromosome, while females have two X chromosomes, meaning that males inherit a Y chromosome from their fathers and they inherit X chromosomes from their mothers, while females inherit an X chromosome from both their father and their mother. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As such, if a parent has hemophilia, they can pass it onto their children on either the X or the Y chromosome; though males are more likely to exhibit symptoms, while females are usually only carriers. 
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2. Factor VII deficiency.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most cases of hemophilia are caused as a result of a Factor VII deficiency. There are a total of 13 clotting factors, or proteins, within the blood; however, these genes can become mutated, and as a result, blood clotting<\/a> can be affected. A deficiency in Factor VII is the most common cause of hemophilia or hemophilia A. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to medical researchers, 8 out of 10 people who suffer from this bleeding disorder have hemophilia A. The mutation of Factor VII is inherited or passed on from one family member to another; both males and females can pass it onto their children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While males who pass on this genetic mutation may experience symptoms of hemophilia themselves, females who pass on this genetic mutation usually don\u2019t exhibit symptoms of the disorder. Additionally, males are more likely to exhibit signs, while it is very rare for females to exhibit symptoms. 
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3. Factor IX deficiency.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned above, there are supposed to be a total of 13 clotting factors, or proteins, within the blood. These factors work together with platelets to form a clot over the sigh of a wound<\/a>, and this clot slows down and eventually stops bleeding. A mutation in any of these clotting factors can lead to hemophilia. The blood clotting factor, Factor VIII, isn\u2019t the only factor that can become mutated; so can Factor IX. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mutation of Factor IX is referred to as hemophilia B or Christmas disease. Like hemophilia A, hemophilia B is inherited; a parent who carries a mutated Factor IX gene can pass it onto their children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fathers who pass it ono to their children may exhibit symptoms of the bleeding disorder, while mothers who pass it on usually don\u2019t exhibit symptoms. Furthermore, male children are more likely to develop symptoms of hemophilia B. 
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4. Factor XI deficiency. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Factor XI is another one of the 13 clotting factors or proteins <\/a>within the blood, that can become mutated. Like a mutation or deficiency of Factor VIII and Factor IX can be passed on from parents to children, so can a mutation or deficiency of Factor XI. A deficiency of Factor XI is referred to as hemophilia C. It is an extremely rare form of hemophilia, and it is a mild form of this bleeding disorder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, mothers who pass on the mutated gene to their children usually do not present symptoms of the condition, while fathers who pass on the mutated gene may exhibit symptoms; additionally, male children who inherit a Factor XI mutation are more likely to experience symptoms of hemophilia C than female children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, severe bleeding will only occur after trauma, not spontaneously, as is the case with hemophilia A and B. 
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5. Pregnancy.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Typically, hemophilia is an inherited condition; however, it can also be acquired, meaning that it develops as a result of an autoimmune condition. When this happens, the immune system attacks Factor VIII, the blood clotting factor that becomes mutated in hemophilia B, the inherited disorder. Pregnancy can spark acquired hemophilia in women who are carriers of the blood disorder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During pregnancy<\/a>, hormones can disrupt Factor VIII, causing even lower levels of this protein. As a result, women who are carriers of hemophilia and otherwise do not present symptoms of the condition can experience symptoms while they are pregnant; she can experience excessive bleeding and unexplained and deep bruises, for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the mother is a carrier of hemophilia, there is a chance that she can pass the blood disorder on to her child, too. With proper care, hemophilia during pregnancy can be managed and complications can be offset. 
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6. Cancer.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0While it is extremely rare, some types of cancer <\/a>can cause acquired hemophilia or hemophilia that occurs as a result of the immune system attacking the clotting factors within the blood. Cancer can impact the body in a myriad of ways, and one aspect of the body that it can affect is the immune system. The immune system can become hyperactive, as the body attempts to fight off the disease by triggering the immune system to work on overdrive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When this happens, the immune system can attack other parts of the body, other than cancer; in this case, it can attack certain clotting factors, or proteins within the blood, that are responsible for aiding in blood clotting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, an individual\u2019s blood may not be able to clot as quickly as it normally would, which could lead to excessive bleeding, excessive bruising, and other symptoms of hemophilia. 
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7. Multiple sclerosis.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another very rare condition that can lead to acquired hemophilia is multiple sclerosis<\/a>. The development of autoantibodies that attack Factor VIII, one of the 13 blood clotting factors, can occur in patients who are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. When this happens, acquired hemophilia can occur spontaneously. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, meaning that the immune system views otherwise healthy parts of the body as foreign invaders, and as a result, it attacks these systems or parts of the body in order to protect it. Because multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, and acquired hemophilia is an autoimmune disease, the two conditions can occur at the same time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In patients who develop hemophilia as a result of multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks Factor VIII, which can spark episodes of excessive bleeding and other symptoms that are associated with hemophilia, such as excessive bruising, and joint pain. 
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8. Idiopathic.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, the cause of hemophilia is idiopathic, in other words, the root cause of the condition is unknown. Patients who present symptoms of the condition are not genetically predisposed to the condition, meaning that the condition was not passed on to them from their mother or father; they also do not have any other conditions that can spark the development of hemophilia, such as an autoimmune disorder<\/a> (cancer, multiple sclerosis, etc), or they are not pregnant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In cases of hemophilia where the root cause of the condition cannot be determined, the bleeding disorder is considered idiopathic. Patients who develop idiopathic hemophilia can present the same symptoms that are associated with any other type of hemophilia, including excessive and unexplained bleeding and bruising, joint pain and joint stiffness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The condition cannot be cured, but with proper medical care, it can be managed and the symptoms can be reduced. 
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