Hemophilia Treatment

Specific treatment for hemophilia will be determined by your doctor based on:

• Your age, overall health, and medical history
• Extent of the disease
• Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the disease
• Your opinion or preference

Treatment depends on the type and severity of the hemophilia. Treatment for hemophilia is aimed at prevention of bleeding complications (primarily head and joint bleeds). Treatment may include:

• Parents may want to purchase soft toys with rounded corners for young children. Padded clothing and helmets may be necessary for the child that is learning to walk or becoming more active. Contact sports in school should be evaluated for risks of injury to the child.
• Immunizations may need to be given under the skin (subcutaneous) instead of in the muscle (intra muscular) to prevent deep muscle bleeds.
• Joint hemorrhages may require surgery and/or immobilization. Rehabilitation of the affected joint may include physical therapy and exercise to strengthen the muscles around the area.
• Before surgery, including dental work, your child's doctor may recommend factor replacement infusions to increase the child's clotting levels prior to the procedures. Your child may also receive the specific factor replacement infusions during and after the procedure to maintain the clotting factor levels and to improve healing and prevention of bleeding after the procedure.
• Your child's doctor may also recommend the discontinuation of aspirin, and aspirin-containing products, since these products have been linked to bleeding problems.
• Blood transfusions may be necessary if significant blood loss has occurred.
• Proper dental hygiene is a preventive measure.
• Prophylactic self-infusion of factor VIII or IX can allow a child with hemophilia to lead a near normal lifestyle.

The use of gene therapy to replace the defective genes that cause hemophilia is under study, and clinical trials are being conducted.