Guide To The Types of Hemophilia

Hemophilia C

First identified in 1953, hemophilia C is caused by a defective or missing factor XI protein. This type of hemophilia is estimated to occur in one out of every 100,000 individuals in the general population. In Israel, hemophilia C develops in an estimated eight percent of the Ashkenazi population. Both sexes are equally affected by this type of hemophilia. Patients with hemophilia C may experience severe bleeding after oral surgery or tooth extractions, and nosebleeds and soft tissue bleeds are common, too. Unlike other types of hemophilia, the symptoms associated with hemophilia C are not correlated with levels of factor XI. For instance, individuals with lower levels of factor XI might experience less bleeding than those with higher levels. To diagnose hemophilia C, doctors will perform platelet function tests, activated partial thromboplastin time tests, and prothrombin time tests. In the United States, factor XI concentrates are not yet available, so doctors rely on large amounts of fresh frozen plasma as the primary treatment method. This treatment is often combined with fibrin glue, a substance that helps maintain clots after mouth bleeding.

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