Hemophilia :: essays research papers

Hemophilia is a rare elementtic blood clot disorder that primarily affects males. People sustentation with bleeders disease do not have enough of, or are missing, one of the blood clotting proteins naturally found in blood. Two of the intimately common forms of hemophilia are A and B. In persons with hemophilia A (also called classic hemophilia), clotting factor VIII is not present in satisfactory amounts or is absent. In persons with hemophilia B (also called Christmas disease), clotting factor IX is not present in sufficient amounts or is absent. People with hemophilia do not bleed more profusely or bleed faster than normal they bleed for a longer period of time.Virtually all plenty who have hemophilia A or B are born with it. The majority of people with hemophiliahave a family history (it is a contractable disorder).In as many as 30% of cases, there is no family history of hemophilia. In these cases, the mother may not be aware that she carries the gene for hemophilia, or a gene mutation may have occurred spontaneously.A long historyHemophilia was identified as early as biblical times. Doctors in medieval times were familiar with it as well. In 1803, a Philadelphia doctor published the first description of hemophilia in the United States. further it was not until 30 years later that hemophilia became widely recognized. Hemophilia laterdeveloped a reputation as the "royal disease" because it passed from cigaret Victoria of England to her descendants throughout the royal houses of Europe.Who Gets Hemophilia?Hemophilia occurs when the gene to produce clotting factor does not work correctly.Without the proper amount of clotting factor, bleeding occurs easily.Hemophilia is an inherited disorder in about two thirds of the cases. About one third ofthe cases of hemophilia occur due to spontaneous changes in the gene or mutations. The presence of a mutated gene may not be noted until a woman with no family history of hemophilia has a son with the d isorder.The gene for hemophilia is carried on the X chromosome. The gene for hemophilia isalso recessive. This is why hemophilia is referred to as an X-linked recessive disorder.If there is not a normal gene present to offset the defective, recessive gene, thedisorder will be present. Whether or not a child will have hemophilia or be a carrier forthe disorder depends on the status of the mother and of the father. The figure belowshows how this type of disorder is inherited.