Hemophilia

Hemophilia is an inheritable disorder of the mechanism of blood clotting. Depending on the degree of the disorder present in an individual, excess bleeding may occur only after specific, predictable events (such as surgery, dental procedures, or trauma), or may occur spontaneously, with no initiating event.

Various tests are available to measure, under very carefully controlled conditions, the length of time it takes to produce certain components of the final fibrin clot. Tests can also determine the percentage of factors VIII and IX present compared to known normal percentages. Families with a positive history of hemophilia can have tests done during a pregnancy to determine whether the fetus is hemophiliac.