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VWD patient Kristin Prior)

Hereditary Bleeding Disorders

Understanding Hereditary Bleeding Disorders

Bleeding disorders are a group of conditions that result when the blood cannot clot properly. As a result, people with bleeding disorders experience extended bleeding after injury, menstruation, trauma, or surgery, and in many situations depending on the severity, spontaneous bleeding into joints, muscles, or other parts of their bodies.

Improper clotting results from defects in blood components, such as clotting proteins and/or platelets. The body produces 13 different clotting proteins, also called clotting factors. If any of these clotting factors are missing or not working properly, a bleeding disorder can result. Bleeding disorders are quite rare, and some bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, can be congenital (hereditary) or acquired. Congenital bleeding disorders are caused by defects or damage in the genes and are present at birth. They can be inherited or appear due to a genetic mutation. Acquired bleeding disorders are those that develop after birth or spontaneously occur in the individual.

Treatment varies, depending on the condition and its severity. For some bleeding disorders, there are treatments that can be taken at home to prevent or treat bleeds. With appropriate education and treatment, people with bleeding disorders can live full and productive lives.

  • Over 300,000

    people have bleeding disorders

  • 30%

    of people with hemophilia have no family history of it

  • 1 in 100

    people are born with von Willebrand Disease

How can we help you?

Availability of treatments may vary from country to country. Please be sure to visit your local CSLBehring.com site for further information.

Von Willebrand Disease

Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) is a bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of a protein called von Willebrand Factor.

Hemophilia A

Hemophilia A is a bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in blood clotting Factor VIII. 

Hemophilia B

Hemophilia B is a bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in blood clotting Factor IX.

Factor XIII Deficiency

Congenital Factor XIII deficiency is a bleeding disorder characterized by unstable blood clots.

Factor X Deficiency

Congenital Factor X deficiency is an autosomal recessive inherited bleeding disorder caused by genetic defects on chromosome 13, resulting in a deficiency of Factor X.

Fibrinogen Deficiency

Congenital fibrinogen deficiency describes a range of conditions characterized by absent, insufficient or dysfunctional fibrinogen.

From Caregiver to Advocate

After a harrowing journey to a hemophilia diagnosis for her son, Krissy is stepping up to help others.

Watch Krissy's Story