Hemophilia, an inherited bleeding disorder, is inherited and caused by the lack of a blood factor needed for clotting. This leads to excessive bleeding from minor cuts and injuries as a result.

So, knowing the risk factors for hemophilia can facilitate early diagnosis and help one get timely treatment. Most hemophilia cases are congenital, which means that person in question has inherited the genetic mutation by birth, and it could be from either or both parents. Congenital hemophilia can be diagnosed at any age, even before a child is born, provided the parents opt for prenatal testing. That being said, hemophilia can also be acquired, but it cannot be transmitted.

How is hemophilia inherited?
Genes for the congenital type A and B hemophilia are carried by the X chromosome, which means fathers cannot pass hemophilia to their sons. The X chromosome determines an individual’s sex, and females have two of these, one from each parent. However, males have a single X chromosome inherited from their mothers and a Y chromosome inherited from their fathers. Women inheriting a copy of either hemophilia A or B from their parents are the carriers of this gene. While some of them may not develop any symptoms of the condition, others may have clotting factor deficiency and experience bleeding problems. Hemophilia C, on the other hand, can affect both sexes.

What are the risk factors for hemophilia?

• Men who are born into families with a history of this condition are at high risk. The defect responsible for hemophilia is from the X chromosome, which means mothers who are carriers can pass it on to their sons. Since daughters have two X chromosomes, they are typically not affected and only become carriers in most cases. So, the biggest risk factor for inherited hemophilia is for men with a family history of the condition.
• Risk factors for acquired hemophilia are pregnancy, malignancy, autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and SLE, infections like hepatitis C and AIDS, and dermatological conditions like psoriasis.
• Hemophilia C is triggered because of a deficiency in the clotting factor XI that occurs due to changes in this gene located on chromosome 4. This defective gene can be inherited through an autosomal recessive way, wherein both females and males have equal risks of inheriting this condition. In order for the disease to grow, the gene’s faulty copy has to be inherited from either parent. So, each parent will have to be affected by the disease or be a carrier for it to affect a child. The condition causes moderate bleeding, especially after surgery or trauma.
• Acquired hemophilia is a rare type and is an autoimmune disorder resulting from the creation of antibodies that are actually cellular proteins attacking the body’s molecules. In this condition, the body attacks the coagulation factor VIII, blocking its functioning and causing abnormal bleeding into the muscles, skin, and soft tissues. These symptoms are typically noticeable in adulthood.