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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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In this Article

• What is hemophilia?
• What causes hemophilia?
• What are the signs and symptoms of hemophilia?
• How is hemophilia diagnosed?
• Is it possible to know if you are a carrier of hemophilia?
• What are treatments for hemophilia?
• What are complications of treatment?
• Inhibitors
• Infections
• Can hemophilia be prevented?
• What is the outlook (prognosis) for hemophilia?
• What are possible future treatments for hemophilia?
• Hemophilia At A Glance
• Find a local Doctor in your town
• Hemophilia Index

The mainstay of treatment is replacement of the blood clotting factors. Clotting factor concentrates can be purified from human donor blood or made in the laboratory using methods that do not use donor blood. This type of therapy is known as replacement therapy. Clotting factor replacement therapy is carried out by infusing the clotting factor concentrates into a vein, much like a blood transfusion. This type of therapy can be administered at home with proper instruction and training.

Depending upon the severity of the condition, replacement therapy may be carried out on an as-needed basis (called demand therapy) or on a regular basis to prevent bleeding episodes (known as prophylactic therapy).

People who have mild cases of hemophilia A are sometimes treated with the drug desmopressin, also known as DDAVP. This drug stimulates release of more clotting factor by the body. It is administered either slowly through the intravenous route (IV) or occasionally, in nasal spray form.

Pain relievers may be prescribed for symptom relief, but pain relievers other than aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (such as naproxen, ibuprofen) must be used, since these types of drugs further inhibit the blood's ability to clot. Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) is often given for pain relief.