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WHAT IS HAEMOPHILIA? 

Haemophilia is a rare condition that affects the blood's ability to clot. It's usually inherited, and most people who have it are male.

Normally, when you cut yourself, substances in the blood known as clotting factors combine with blood cells called platelets to make the blood sticky. This makes the bleeding stop eventually.

People with haemophilia don't have as many clotting factors as there should be in the blood. This means they bleed for longer than usual.

There are several different types of haemophilia. The following two are the most common:

  • Haemophilia A (Classic Haemophilia), caused by a lack or decrease of clotting factor VIII. 
  • Haemophilia B (Christmas Disease), caused by a lack or decrease of clotting factor IX. 

There's no cure for haemophilia, but treatment usually allows a person with the condition to enjoy a good quality of life.

Genetically engineered clotting factor medicines are used to prevent and treat prolonged bleeding. These medicines are given as an injection.

Haemophilia occurs in about one of every 5,000 male births, according to the CDC. Currently, about 20,000 people in the US and 400,000 worldwide are living with the disorder. 

In the UK, figures suggest there are 2,000 sufferers of the condition.

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