Hemophilia is a genetic bleeding disorder caused by deficiencies in coagulation factors VIII or IX. It affects males primarily and can range from mild to severe. The main types are hemophilia A (factor VIII deficiency) and hemophilia B (factor IX deficiency). Treatment involves replacing the missing clotting factor through prophylactic or on-demand regimens to prevent or treat bleeding episodes. Complications can include hemarthrosis, joint damage, fractures, and pseudotumors, so treatment seeks to maintain adequate factor levels and address medical issues promptly. Proper diagnosis and laboratory testing are needed to determine severity and guide personalized management.

1. Short talk on Hemophilia
HEMANT AND BHARAT

2. What is hemophilia?
 X-linked congenital bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of coagulation factor
VIII (in hemophilia A) or factor IX (in hemophilia B).
 The deficiency is the result of mutations of the respective clotting factor genes, F8
and F9 genes .
 frequency of approximately one in 10,000 births.
 Hemophilia A is more common than hemophilia B, representing 80-85% of the total
hemophilia population.
 Hemophilia generally affects males on the maternal side.
 However, both F8 and F9 genes are prone to new mutations, and as many as 1/3 of
all cases are the result of spontaneous mutation where there is no prior family history.

3. Hemophilia
A and B

4. Factor VIII
 Factor VIII is an essential blood-clotting protein, also known as anti-hemophilic factor
(AHF).
 In humans, factor VIII is encoded by the F8 gene.
 Factor VIII is produced in liver sinusoidal cells and endothelial cells outside of the liver
throughout the body.
 This protein circulates in the bloodstream in an inactive form, bound to another
molecule called von Willebrand factor, until an injury that damages blood vessels
occurs.
 In response to injury, coagulation factor VIII is activated and separates from von
Willebrand factor.
 The active protein (sometimes written as coagulation factor VIIIa) interacts with another
coagulation factor called factor IX. This interaction sets off a chain of additional
chemical reactions that form a blood clot.

5. Von Willebrand factor
 Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a blood glycoprotein
involved in hemostasis.
 It is deficient or defective in von Willebrand disease and
is involved in a large number of other diseases, including
thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, Heyde's
syndrome, and possibly hemolytic-uremic syndrome.
 Factor VIII is bound to vWF while inactive in circulation;
factor VIII degrades rapidly when not bound to vWF.
Factor VIII is released from vWF by the action of thrombin.
 vWF binds to collagen, e.g., when it is exposed in
endothelial cells due to damage occurring to the blood
vessel.
 vWF binds to platelet gpIb when it forms a complex with
gpIX and gpV; this binding occurs under all
circumstances, but is most efficient under high shear
stress (i.e., rapid blood flow in narrow blood vessels, see
below).

6. Von Willebrand disease
 Von Willebrand disease (vWD) is the most common hereditary coagulation
abnormality described in humans, although it can also be acquired as a result of
other medical conditions. It arises from a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of
von Willebrand factor (vWF).
 Type 1- 60-80% of all vWD cases; quantitative defect. Asymptomatic
 Decreased levels of vWF are detected at 10-45% of normal.
 Type 2 - 20-30% ; qualitative defect in vWF . Mild to moderate symptoms
 Type 3 - Type 3 is the most severe form of von Willebrand disease (homozygous for
the defective gene) and is characterized by complete absence of production of
vWF.

7. Diagnosis
 The characteristic phenotype in hemophilia is the bleeding tendency.
 While the history of bleeding is usually life-long, some children with severe
hemophilia may not have bleeding symptoms until later when they begin
walking or running.
 The severity of bleeding in hemophilia is generally correlated with the
clotting factor level.
 Some bleeds can be life-threatening and require immediate treatment.

9. Laboratory tests
 Accurate diagnosis can only be made with the support of a comprehensive
and accurate laboratory service.
INTERPRETATION OF SCREENING TESTS

10. Factor analysis
Factor assay is required in the following situations:
■ To determine diagnosis
■ To monitor treatment
■ The laboratory monitoring of clotting factor concentrates is possible by measuring pre and
post-infusion clotting factor levels.
■ Lower than expected recovery and/or reduced half-life of infused clotting factor may be
an early indicator of the presence of inhibitors.
■ To test the quality of cryoprecipitate
■ It is useful to check the FVIII concentration present in cryoprecipitate as part of the quality
control of this product.

11. Treatment
 Prophylactic
 Therapeutic in case of injuries or bleed.

12. Prophylactic factor replacement
therapy
 Prophylaxis is the treatment by intravenous injection of factor concentrate in order
to prevent anticipated bleeding.
 Prophylaxis was conceived from the observation that moderate hemophilia patients
with clotting factor level >1 IU/dl seldom experience spontaneous bleeding and
have much better preservation of joint function.
 Prophylactic replacement of clotting factor has been shown to be useful even
when factor levels are not maintained above 1 IU/dl at all times.

13. DEFINITIONS OF FACTOR REPLACEMENT THERAPY PROTOCOLS

14. Orthopaedic aspects
 Joint hemorrhage (hemarthrosis)
The onset of bleeding in joints is frequently described by patients as a tingling sensation and
tightness within the joint. This “aura” precedes the appearance of clinical signs.
 A target joint is a joint in which 3 or more spontaneous bleeds have occurred within
a consecutive 6-month period.
 The goal of treatment of acute hemarthrosis is to stop the bleeding as soon as
possible. This should ideally occur as soon as the patient recognizes the “aura”,
rather than after the onset of overt swelling and pain.
 Administer the appropriate dose of factor concentrate to raise the patient’s factor
level suitably.

16. Hemarthrosis – Arthrocentesis?
 Arthrocentesis (removal of blood from a joint) may be considered in the following situations:
■ a bleeding, tense, and painful joint which shows no improvement 24 hours after conservative treatment.
■ joint pain that cannot be alleviated.
■ evidence of neurovascular compromise of the limb
■ unusual increase in local or systemic temperature and other evidence of infection (septic arthritis)
 The early removal of blood should theoretically reduce its damaging effects on the articular
cartilage.
 Arthrocentesis is best done soon after a bleed under strictly aseptic conditions.
 When necessary, Arthrocentesis should be performed under factor levels of at least 30–50 IU/dl for
48–72 hours. Arthrocentesis should not be done in circumstances where such factor replacement
is not available.

17. Fractures
 Fractures are not frequent in people with hemophilia, possibly due to lower levels of
ambulation and intensity of activities . However, a person with hemophilic arthropathy
may be at risk for fractures around joints that have significant loss of motion and in bones
that are osteoporotic.
 Treatment of a fracture requires immediate factor concentrate replacement.
 Clotting factor levels should be raised to at least 50% and maintained for three to five
days.
 Lower levels may be maintained for 10–14 days while the fracture becomes stabilized and
to prevent soft tissue bleeding.
 Circumferential plaster should be avoided; splints are preferred.
 Prolonged immobilization, which can lead to significant limitation of range of movement in
the adjacent joints, should be avoided.

18. Pseudotumour
 The pseudotumour is a potentially limb and life-threatening condition unique to
hemophilia that occurs as a result of inadequately treated soft tissue bleeds,
usually in muscle adjacent to bone, which can be secondarily involved. It is
most commonly seen in a long bone or the pelvis.
 If not treated, the pseudotumour can reach enormous size, causing pressure on
the adjacent neurovascular structures and pathologic fractures. A fistula can
develop through the overlying skin.
 Diagnosis is made by the physical finding of a localized mass.
 Radiographic findings include a soft tissue mass with adjacent bone
destruction.

19. Pseudotumour

20. Pseudotumour - Management
 A six-week course of treatment with factor is recommended, followed by
repeat MRI. If the tumor is decreasing, continue with factor and repeat MRI
for three cycles.
 Proceed to surgery if necessary, which will be much easier if the tumor has
shrunk.
 Aspiration of the pseudotumour followed by injections of fibrin glue,
arterial embolization, or radiotherapy may heal some lesions.
 Surgical excisions, including limb amputations, may be necessary for large
pseudotumour, particularly if they erode long bones.

21. Pain management
 Acute and chronic pain are common in patients with hemophilia.
Adequate assessment of the cause of pain is essential to guide proper
management.
 Pain caused by venous access
 Pain caused by joint or muscle bleeding
 Post-operative pain
 Pain due to chronic hemophilic arthropathy

22. STRATEGIES FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT

23. Surgery and invasive procedures
 Surgery may be required for hemophilia-related complications or
unrelated diseases.
 Pre-operative assessment should include factor VIII assay, inhibitor
screening and inhibitor assay, particularly if the recovery of the replaced
factor is significantly less than expected.
 If clotting factor concentrates are not available, adequate blood bank
support for plasma components is needed.

24. SUGGESTED PLASMA FACTOR
PEAK LEVEL AND DURATION OF
ADMINISTRATION

25. THANK YOU