5 complications of hemophilia and associated signs

5 complications of hemophilia and associated signs

Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder where the blood fails to clot properly. Consequently, an individual with an injury like a cut or undergoing surgery might be subject to spontaneous bleeding that is difficult to stop due to the lack of necessary clotting factors. The frequent loss of too much blood can also lead to many complications, especially in severe cases of hemophilia. Here are the health complications that might be caused by hemophilia and their signs.

Hemophilic arthropathy
People who experience spontaneous joint bleeds due to an injury or trauma might be at risk of hemophilia. These bleeds usually occur in the elbows, ankles, knees, or hips but might also be noticed in other areas. The symptom is one of the primary causes of chronic pain and disability in people with severe hemophilia. Continuous bleeding into a joint can break down the lining of the joints and cause damage. The affected joint becomes warm, painful to move, and swollen. Eventually, the symptom leads to hemophilic arthropathy. Therefore, one must seek immediate attention if one notices the occurrence of this symptom.

Compartment syndrome
This disease is a painful condition that causes pressure on the muscles to reach a dangerous level. A severe injury or excessive physical exertion may lead to swelling or bleeding in a compartment. However, the area around it does not expand to make room, so the bleeding applies pressure on the nerves and muscles, known as compartmental pressure. This syndrome is one of the most common complications for individuals who have hemophilia, as the bleeding might take longer to subside. A few symptoms of this syndrome include visible muscle swelling, numbness, pain in muscle that is more severe than anticipated from an injury, and muscle tightness.

Hematuria
Individuals may experience health conditions like hematuria (blood in urine) for several reasons, including urinary tract infections. However, if it occurs out of the ordinary and they have no underlying disease, it could indicate the onset of hemophilia. The condition may have affected their kidneys or bladder, which results in blood mixing with the urine. Moreover, if the disease has affected the intestines or stomach, it could lead to blood being passed in stools. Both complications must be diagnosed and treated by a healthcare professional immediately.

Seizures
A severe complication of hemophilia includes seizures. This might be noticed in those who suffer internal bleeds, such as those in the brain. People with hemophilia may have a bleed in and around the brain following an injury or without a known cause. As a result, the injured part may develop a scar, leading to complications like seizures. Individuals who suffer from seizures might exhibit symptoms including temporary confusion, uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs, and the loss of consciousness or awareness.

Pseudotumor
A pseudotumor is a hematoma (a pool of blood) that usually develops in muscles adjacent to bones. This disease is also typically identified in the long bones or pelvis. The condition is rare, and people contract this disease in severe cases of hemophilia. The pseudotumor grows as a chronic, slowly expanding encapsulated cystic mass due to the constant hemorrhage in the affected regions. Someone affected by a pseudotumor might experience symptoms including severe headaches that originate behind the eyes, a whooshing sound in the head that pulses with their heartbeat, loss of vision, nausea, and vomiting.