Hemophilia Manitoba
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Hemophilia Manitoba
Hemophilia Manitoba, or hemophilia, is a sex-linked genetic disorder that is effecting about 20,000 Americans, most of which males. A person with hemophilia either has an inactive or inadequate supply of one of several blood factors needed for blood to clot. Because of this hemophilia can be mild, moderate, or severe. Severe hemophiliacs are at risk for bleeding during surgery, trauma, or even dental work. There are two types of hemophilia, A and B (Christmas disease). Hemophilia B is extremely rare. The majority of the people have hemophilia
A. In hemophilia A, the particular factor missing is 8 for clotting. Because hemophilia is sex-linked disorder, it can be passed on from mother to child. This is because the gene responsible for making blood factors 8 and 9 are only found on the X-chromosome. If a female is a carrier that means that she has one bad gene and one good gene for this disease. There is a fifty percent chance that she would pass it on to her child because she can only pass on one of the two chromosomes. If a male has hemophilia, he will have normal sons and all of his daughters will be carriers of the hemophilia disorder because all he can pass on is the defective X-chromosome.
Males mostly have hemophilia, but women can also have hemophilia. This is extremely rare though because two defective X-chromosomes would be needed. In fact, the first proven case of women having hemophilia was not until the 1950’s (Bornstein 89). Female carriers are also at risk. These women are known as asymptomatic carriers and may suffer excessive menstrual bleeding, bruising, nosebleeds, and problems during childbirth.
One serious problem with hemophilia is joint bleeds. When a joint bleeds, a small amount of blood leaks into joint space and can not escape the joint because it is covered by a capsule of tissue. If the bleeding is not discovered by this stage, blood will continue to fill up the joint space. The joint begins to swell and become uncomfortable. Eventually, the pressure inside will be greater than outside and the bleeding stops. Fortunately, the blood makes digestive enzymes that eats up the trapped blood. Unfortunately, the digestive enzymes will also attack the cartilage that covers the bones. After several bleeds, the cartilage can become worn out and the enzymes can eat away at the bone.
Hemophilia is either treated each time an internal bleed