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Signs and symptoms -

The signs and symptoms of hemophilia vary depending on the sufferer’s level of clotting factors. If the clotting-factor level is only slightly reduced, the person may only bleed after surgery or trauma.

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Spontaneous bleeding -

However, if the clotting-factor level is significantly reduced, the sufferer may bleed easily for no apparent reason.

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Signs of spontaneous bleeding -

Signs of spontaneous bleeding include large or deep bruises, unusual bleeding after vaccinations, surgery, dental work, and blood in your urine or stool.

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Potential complications -

For people with severe hemophilia, there is a chance that a knock to the head could result in bleeding in the brain. This is one of the most serious potential complications of the disease.

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Causes -

Hemophilia is usually inherited, which means that the sufferer is generally born with the condition. Males are much more likely to present with the condition than females.

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Acquired hemophilia -

It is also possible to develop hemophilia, in which case we refer to "acquired hemophilia." This can be associated with a number of things including pregnancy, autoimmune conditions, and cancer.

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Treatment -

The main treatment for hemophilia involves replacing the necessary clotting factor through a tube in a vein.

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Continuous replacement therapy -

This can be done either to treat a bleeding episode already in progress, or on a regular basis to help prevent bleeding episodes. Indeed, some people receive continuous replacement therapy.

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The royal disease -

Hemophilia is sometimes referred to as the "royal disease" because of its presence in a number of European royal families.

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Queen Victoria -

Queen Victoria is said to have been a carrier of hemophilia B, and is believed to have passed it on to three of her children.

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Prince Leopold -

Her son, Prince Leopold, died from a hemorrhage at age 30 after he fell and injured his knee and his head. This unfortunate accident occurred just four months before his son was born.

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Princesses Alice and Beatrice -

Queen Victoria’s daughters Princess Alice and Princess Beatrice both went on to marry royals from other European countries and pass the disease down.

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Alexei Nikolaevich -

One of the more famous descendants of Queen Victoria, Alexei Nikolaevich was the only son of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

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Alexei Nikolaevich - This particular hemophilia sufferer was killed by Bolshevik troops along with the rest of his family in 1918 at the start of the Russian Revolution.

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Alexei Nikolaevich -

Despite his hemophilia, the Bolsheviks had a hard time killing Nikolaevich at first. There were multiple failed gunshots and stabbings because he was wearing a vest of gems under his shirt.

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Celebrity cases -

Hemophilia is a rare condition, but it can affect anyone. As such, there are some celebs who have hemophilia.

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Alex Borstein - First on the list is actress and comedian Alex Borstein, who is arguably best known for her voice role as Lois Griffin on ‘Family Guy.'

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Alex Borstein -

A hemophilia carrier and spokesperson, Borstein is also known for her portrayal of Susie Myerson on ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.’

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Alex Borstein -

Borstein has spoken publicly about her family’s experience with hemophilia, and she has participated in campaigns for the National Hemophilia Foundation.

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Richard Burton -

Prolific actor and husband to Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton was the first ever Hollywood star to reveal he had hemophilia.

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Richard Burton -

Together with Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton set up the Burton Hemophilia Fund in 1964 to help find a cure for the disease.

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Richard Burton -

Burton once told The New York Times that while his case of hemophilia was less severe, “two of his brothers nearly died from bleeding when they underwent tonsillectomies.”

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Alex Dowsett -

In 2015, Alex Dowsett broke the world record for distance cycled in an hour (32.894 miles). What many don't know is that this British professional cyclist suffers from hemophilia.

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Alex Dowsett -

Because Dowsett needs to inject himself with clotting protein factor 8 to control his hemophilia, he is exempt from international cycling rules against injections and blood enhancement therapies.

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Alex Dowsett -

According to Dowsett himself, he took up cycling because it was less risky than other more contact-based sports, such as soccer or rugby.

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Alex Dowsett -

To quote him, “They [his doctors] said they'd rather that I'd taken up playing chess or playing a musical instrument, but that they weren't going to stop me.”

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Ryan White -

And last but not least, there was Ryan White, the boy who became famous precisely because he had hemophilia.

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Ryan White - In a tragic turn of events, Ryan White was infected with HIV as a boy when he received a contaminated blood transfusion. This was before procedures were changed to prevent infection.

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Ryan White -

He was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984 when he was just 13 years old, and died from the disease six years later, just a few months before Congress enacted the Ryan White CARE (Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency) Act.

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Ryan White -

Since then, this legislation has been reauthorized several times and it is now the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which provides medical care and support for people who are un- or underinsured and living with HIV.

Sources: (Mayo Clinic) (Hemophilia News Today) (Everyday.Clinic)

See also: What exactly is Alport syndrome, and how serious is this inherited disorder?

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