Bleeding disorders are inherited family of diseases that affects the body’s ability to clot blood. This may be due to missing or dysfunctional blood proteins (or platelets). As a result, these disorders can lead to prolonged bleeding after injury.
Approximately 300,000 Canadians have an inherited blood disorder. These conditions include:
- Hemophilia A and B
- von Willebrand disease
- Rare clotting factor deficiencies
- Platelet function disorders
Hemophilia A
Hemophilia A is an inherited blood disorder caused by a deficiency in blood clotting factor VIII. This causes severe and prolong bleeding. Hemophilia A disproportionately affects men.
Von Willebrand disease
Von Willebrand disease is the single most common bleeding disorder. It is caused by a genetic deficiency in the von Willebrand factor, involved in blood coagulation. Von Willebrand disease is equally prevalent in men and women.
Rare clotting factor deficiencies
Clotting factor deficiencies are a group of genetic inherited conditions in which clotting factors I, II, V, VII, X, XI, or XIII are missing.
Platelet function disorders
Platelet function disorders are a group of conditions in which blood platelets do not work properly. It is caused when granules in platelets are not stored or released. These disorders can be genetic or acquired (i.e., caused by other diseases or medications).