Types of Hemophilia


The different types of hemophilia are:

  • Hemophilia A or Classic Hemophilia: This type of hemophilia is caused by a reduced or a complete lack of ‘factor VIII’ responsible for proper blood coagulation. This is the most common type of hemophilia and affects nearly 80% of people suffering from the condition. Hemophilia A is more commonly found in males and is generally attributed to hereditary factors.
  • Hemophilia B: People affected with hemophilia B suffer from low or no amount of factor IX. Usually found in males, hemophilia B is caused by spontaneous genetic mutation but is much less common than hemophilia A.
  • Hemophilia C: In this type of hemophilia, factor XI is missing or found in reduced amounts. This type of hemophilia is found in both men and women.
  • Von Willebrand’s Disease: This is a bleeding disorder very similar to hemophilia that affects both men and women equally. Here, there is a deficiency in a protein called the Von Willebrand factor that is necessary for the proper formation of blood clots. This is also a genetic disorder.
The different types of hemophilia are also categorized in terms of severity of the condition i.e.:

  • Severe 0% - 1% Factor Level – This is a severe form of the disorder, which results in excessive bleeding after injuries or during surgery. Bleeding can even occur within the joints and muscles and occur without a person’s knowledge.
  • Moderate 1% - 5% Factor Level – Bleeding after injuries is moderate in such cases though spontaneous bleeding episodes can occur as well.
  • Mild 5% - 50% Factor Level – Prolonged bleeding may occur after surgery, injury, or any type of trauma. However, this condition may be mild enough not to be discovered until adulthood.