Hemophilia b

Hemophilia B is a genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding. This results in people bleeding longer after an injury, easy bruising, and an increased risk of bleeding inside joints or the brain.

Causes

Hemophilia B is caused by a deficiency of factor IX, a clotting protein. It is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern, meaning that the gene causing the condition is located on the X chromosome. Males are affected by X-linked recessive disorders much more frequently than females.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Hemophilia B can vary greatly depending on the severity of the factor IX deficiency. Common symptoms include:

• Bleeding into muscles and joints, such as the knees, elbows, and ankles
• Spontaneous bleeding
• Prolonged bleeding from cuts, tooth extraction, and surgery
• Easy bruising
• Blood in urine or stool
• Nosebleeds

Diagnosis

Hemophilia B is diagnosed through a blood test that measures the level of factor IX activity. If the factor IX activity is less than 40% of normal, a diagnosis of hemophilia is considered.

Treatment

Treatment for Hemophilia B involves replacing the missing factor IX through infusions into a vein. This can be done at a hospital, a hemophilia treatment center, or at home.

See also

• Hemophilia A
• Factor IX
• X-linked recessive inheritance

References

Hemophilia b Resources
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