Acquired hemophilia occurs when the immune system mistakes healthy clotting factors for pathogens and attacks them, damaging them to the point where they can no longer perform the actions needed to clot the blood.
Symptoms of hemophilia include:
- Spontaneous bleeding
- Large or deep bruises
- Joint pain and tightness
- Blood in urine or stool
- Unexplained nosebleeds
Because of these spontaneous bleeds, people living with hemophilia are at risk of adverse complications, such as internal bleeding that damages tissues, bleeding in the brain, throat, or neck, joint damage, and infection.
In many cases, people will be diagnosed with hemophilia during infancy or childhood, but mild cases can take until adulthood to be diagnosed. Since the complications of hemophilia can be life-threatening, it is vital to get a proper diagnosis and treatment for the disorder as soon as possible.
This article explores all the treatment options available for Canadians living with hemophilia.
Prescription Medications
Prescription medications can be effective therapies for people with hemophilia, and there are many options to choose from. Each type is geared toward an individual’s needs, specific type and severity, and what works best for them.
Factor replacement therapy
Factor replacement therapy (FRT)
is a standard treatment for people with mild forms of hemophilia A or B. It is considered the “gold-standard” therapy for those with hemophilia A, specifically.