People with hemophilia are at risk of developing complications. The first may occur when you try to treat a patient. A person with hemophilia is given a clotting factor concentrate to prevent bleeding. However, in some patients the body is trying to fight the medicine and prevents it from stopping the bleeding. Find out more about complications of hemophilia.

People withhemophiliaare at risk ofcomplications . The first of these may occur when trying to treat a patient. A person with hemophilia is given a clotting factor concentrate to prevent bleeding. Other complications include joint damage, muscle bleeding and pain.

Hemophilia complicated by inhibitor

A person with hemophilia is given a clotting factor concentrate to prevent bleeding. However, in some patients the body recognizes the clotting factor concentrate as an "enemy" and begins to produce antibodies - called inhibitors - to fight it and eliminate it or neutralize its effects. As a result, they do not allow the bleeding to stop. This hemophilia complication usually occurs within the first 50 clotting factor injections. After this time, the risk of developing an inhibitor is very low. It is not known why the body produces inhibitors. However, doctors have determined that there are certain risk factors, including the patient's age, the form of haemophilia, and infection that may have been caused by the insertion of a vascular port. The goal of treatment is to get the inhibitor out of the body. This can be achieved by regularly administering high doses of factor VIII or IX concentrates to suppress antibody production and modulate the immune system to stop rejecting the factor. This method is similar to desensitizing a person struggling with an allergy. In order to treat and prevent bleeding during "desensitization", other medicinal preparations are used (the so-called bypassing factor of the inhibitor).

Hemophilia - complications. Bleeding into the muscles

Deep muscle bleeding can damage nerves and blood vessels, which can lead to numbness, paralysis and even muscle necrosis. To prevent this from happening, you should choose your physical activity wisely and use pads when performing hazardous activities.

Hemophilia -complications. Joint injuries

In people with hemophilia, bleeding into the joints is common and can lead to joint damage (this is haemophilic arthropathy). Repeated bleeding into the joint causes its irreversible damage and deformation, associated with atrophy of adjacent muscle groups and limited mobility. In this situation, clotting factors are given to prevent new bleeding. In addition, the patient should perform appropriate exercises. You can also use splints or stabilizers.

Hemophilia - complications. Pain

A person with hemophilia experiences two types of pain - acute pain caused by bleeding into a muscle or joint, and chronic pain caused by muscle or joint damage due to recurrent bleeding. If acute pain occurs, the coagulation factor concentrate should be administered, and the bleeding site should be relieved by placing an arm or a leg on a pillow. Ice packs will also relieve pain. You can also use a pain reliever, but only paracetamol. Pain medications that contain acetylsalicylic acid are prohibited because it blocks the process of platelets, which are involved in clot formation, sticking together. Also, other painkillers, such as ketoprofen and ibuprofen, should not be used by someone with hemophilia.

Bibliography:

1. All about hemophilia. Guide for the family

Category:

Genetic diseases