Bleeding Disorders
A bleeding disorder is a medical condition that affects the body’s blood clotting (or coagulation) process. Normally, when a person is hurt, the body activates the coagulation system to form a clot at the site of injury and stop bleeding quickly. Clot formation requires blood cells (called platelets) and blood proteins (called clotting factors). In people with bleeding disorders, either (1) the clotting factors are low or missing, or (2) the platelets do not work properly or are in short supply. These abnormalities cause bleeding problems, which can range from mild to severe.
Causes & Symptoms
Bleeding disorders can either be inherited (passed through families) or developed (acquired) during certain illnesses or over time as a side effect of specific medications. An affected individual experiences bleeding episodes, which may result from an injury or may occur spontaneously (i.e. without a known injury). Symptoms include the following:
- Abnormal menstrual bleeding
- Bleeding into joints, muscles, and soft tissues
- Bleeding internally, in abdomen kidneys, and intestines
- Excess bruising
- Heavy bleeding
- Nose bleeds
- Hemophilia A, also called Factor VIII hemophilia, is caused by a lack of the blood clotting factor VIII.
- Hemophilia B, also called Factor IX hemophilia or Chistmas disease, is caused by a lack of the blood clotting factor IX.
- Von Willebrand disease type I is due to a low level of Von Willebrand factor in the blood.
- Von Willebrand disease type II is due to a defect in the Von Willebrand factor (protein) itself.