Find out about your own medical history.
You can learn a lot of information from genetic testing and talking with family members.
NEXT: MEDICAL HISTORYPrevalence and impact
*About 30% of the time, a baby with hemophilia is
the first to be affected with a different alteration in the hemophilia gene.
the first to be affected with a different alteration in the hemophilia gene.
About hemophilia
Hemophilia is caused by low levels of clotting factor in the blood. Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe. Spontaneous or prolonged bleeding can occur, often into the joints and soft tissues, leading to other health problems. The severity of the disorder is determined by the level of clotting factor in a person’s blood.
Impaired ability to clot (bleeding)
Bleeds can follow cuts, injuries, surgery, or dental work, and can be spontaneous as well.
Joint pain, swelling, or tightness
Joint damage is one of the most serious challenges of hemophilia, as it can result in a limitation of daily activities due to limited mobility. Frequent bleeds in the same joint—known as a target joint—can result in significant damage and possibly lead to joint replacement in some people.
How is hemophilia passed down in families?
Hemophilia is a disorder caused by an abnormal gene on the X chromosome. Present on the X chromosome are the genes for some factors that work together in blood clotting. They are needed to stop a person from bleeding. Having too little of Factors VIII or IX causes hemophilia A or B, respectively. Hemophilia can be passed down through a defective X chromosome from either the mother or the father; however, there are many misconceptions around this condition. For example, there are many women carriers who do not even know that they could pass down the hemophilia gene, and approximately 30% of babies diagnosed have a new mutation not seen in other family members.
Inheritance of hemophilia
Understanding Your Medical Family Tree
The first step in tracking your family’s history of hemophilia is understanding a Medical Family Tree. A Medical Family Tree can help you understand the inheritance pattern in your family. A geneticist, genetic counselor, or your doctor, along with the sample worksheet you can download below, can help you understand your Medical Family Tree and consider a family discussion.
Hemophilia Medical Family Tree Worksheet
Meet your
hemophilia CoRe.
Share your why.
What is a CoRe? A CoRe is a real, live Community Relations and Education Manager who offers information to people living with hemophilia and their families. At Sanofi Genzyme, our connection to the hemophilia community pushes us to educate. What is the hemophilia community to you? At ShareYourWhy.com, connect with your local CoRe Manager and, if you wish, share a photo, poem, video, or anything that captures your why to earn a point for your local community.
STAY CONNECTED