What is a bleeding disorder?
A bleeding disorder is a blood condition in which the blood fails to clot normally. Blood clotting is the process by which protein factors and platelets activate one another to form a plug at a site of bleeding such as a torn blood vessel to prevent further loss of blood from the site. Over time the initial plug forms into a scab and healing of the torn vessel occurs. Clots are formed by the activation in blood of special proteins called clotting factors, these factors activate one another in a sequential manner or cascade that results in a blood clot over a few minutes and this stops bleeding. When a factor is missing, present in low amounts or in an ineffective form, the cascade cannot complete. No clot or unstable clot is formed so bleeding continues.
Usually missing or defective clotting factors are caused by genes; around two thirds of affected people will have a family history of the disorder. In the other third they will be the first affected in their family but the condition is still genetic. Depending on the severity of the bleeding disorder, abnormal bleeding may be noticed at birth or much later. Mild bleeding disorders may not be diagnosed until age 50 or 60 because there have been no episodes of abnormal bleeding. Clinically the bleeding tendency can present as easy bruising or prolonged bleeding after minor injury.
The most serious sort of bleeding is bleeding into the brain or into the abdominal cavity. Other common sites of bleeding include joints and muscles which are damaged by repeated bleeding and healing events.
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Amended November 2009
