What is hemophilia?
Hemophilia is a genetic disorder linked to chromosome X that is the difficulty of the blood to clot properly. It is characterized by the appearance of internal and external bleeding due to partial deficiency of a clotting protein called antihemophilic globulin (clotting factor).
Clotting factors are a group of proteins responsible for activating the clotting process operating in cascade, ie one drives to the next and if it is deficient of one of them, there is no coagulation or is delayed much. Therefore, the blood is not consistent and does not form a good plug to stop bleeding. In severe hemophiliacs, even small injuries can cause numerous and fatal blood loss.
The main symptoms of this disorder are:
- Extensive bruising.
- Bleeding into muscles and joints, particularly knees, ankles and elbows.
