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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffComplications may occur from the disease or from the treatment for the disease:
- Deep internal bleeding. Hemophilia may cause deep-muscle bleeding that leads to swelling of a limb. The swelling may press on nerves and lead to numbness or pain. This may result in a reluctance to use the limb.
- Damage to joints. Internal bleeding may also put pressure on and damage joints. Pain sometimes may be severe, and you may be reluctant to use a limb or move a joint. If bleeding occurs frequently and you don't receive adequate treatment, the irritation may lead to destruction of the joint or to the development of arthritis.
- Infection. People with hemophilia are more likely to receive blood transfusions and are at greater risk of receiving contaminated blood products. Until the mid-1980s, it was more common for people with hemophilia to become infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or with hepatitis through contaminated blood products. Since then, blood products are much safer because of steps taken to screen the supply of donated blood. The risk of infection through blood products also has decreased substantially since the introduction of genetically engineered clotting products called recombinant factors, which are free of infection. However, it's still possible for people who rely on blood products to contract other diseases. If you have hemophilia, consider receiving immunization against hepatitis A and B.
- Adverse reaction to clotting-factor treatment. Some people with hemophilia develop proteins in their blood that inactivate clotting factors used to treat bleeding.
References
- Ferri FF. Hemophilia. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/127220953-8/819378765/1701/258.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50011-2--subchapter13_5514. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- Hoots KW, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of hemophilia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- Hemophilia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hemophilia/hemophilia_what.html. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- Hemophilia. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec11/ch136/ch136d.html. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- Hoots KW, et al. Treatment of hemophilia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 21, 2009.
- Kessler CM. Hemorrhagic disorders: Coagulation factor deficiencies. In: Goldman L, et al., eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:697.
- Pruthi RK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 9, 2009.
