What is a clotting factor?
Clotting factors are proteins in the blood that work with platelets – a type of small blood cell – to help the blood to clot. When blood vessels are damaged, clotting factors help the platelets stick together to plug cuts and breaks at the site of the injury. In people with hemophilia, blood does not clot as it should because it is missing or has low levels of one of these clotting factors. If blood doesn’t clot as quickly or as well as it should, then: • Heavy blood loss can occur. • Body organs and tissues can be injured. • These conditions can result in permanent damage or death. Sometimes people with hemophilia need infusions of a clotting factor or factors to stop bleeding. Types of hemophilia The two main types of hemophilia are: • Hemophilia A: Clotting factor VIII (8) is low or missing. About 9 of 10 people with hemophilia have type A. • Hemophilia B: Clotting factor IX (9) is low or missing. Hemophilia also can be acquired when antibodies to these clotting factors form and blo
Related Questions
- How many haemophiliacs in the U.K. have been treated with U.K.-source plasma-derived clotting factor concentrates (CFCs) in the critical years of 1980 to 2000?
- Has hepatitis A virus been transmitted by clotting factor concentrates among hemophiliacs in the United States?
- Where does replacement clotting factor come from?
