Abstract This paper looks at the most common genetic bleeding disorder von Willebrand disease, which affects roughly 3 percent of the world's population including all genders and races and which is determined by a gene on chromosome 12, although occasionally it occurs as a new mutation. It discusses how hemophilia is due to either a low level of one of the clotting factors, or a completely missing clotting factor, which essentially means that it takes a long time for the blood to clot after an accident or injury. It looks at how its major signs and symptoms are bleeding and bruising. The paper also examines treatment options such as replacement therapy, home-infusion therapy and the use of aminocaproic acid.
From the Paper "Hemophilia is due to either a low level of one of the clotting factors, or a clotting factor is completely missing, which essentially means that it takes a long time for the blood to clot after an accident or injury (Hemophilia 2006). The clotting process, also called blood coagulation, is the body's response to bleeding that keeps it from losing too much blood, which can be life threatening and/or cause damage to the internal organs (Hemophilia 2006). These clotting factors are proteins in the blood that work with platelets to help the blood to clot, thus when blood vessels are damaged, the clotting factors help the platelets adhere together to basically plug cuts and breaks at the injury site (Hemophilia 2006). "