Bleeding and Clotting Disorders

Risk factors for bleeding or clotting disorders

• Family history
• Aging
• Autoimmune disorders
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Hormone replacement therapy
• Infection
• Inflammation
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Surgery

Symptoms

The symptoms may vary depending on the specific type of bleeding disorder or clotting disorder. However, you should see a doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:

• Swelling in a leg or arm
• Leg or arm is warm to the touch
• Excessive bruising
• Excessive bleeding from small cuts or minor injuries
• Unexplained nosebleeds
• Leg pain described as a cramp or charley horse
• Reddish or bluish skin discoloration

Diagnosis

There are several types of blood tests used to diagnose a bleeding or clotting disorder. These may include:

• Complete blood count test: Measures the amount of red and white blood cells in your body.
• Prothrombin and partial thromboplastin time tests: Measure how long it takes for blood to clot.
• Platelet function assay: Measures how fast small blood vessels in the skin stop bleeding.
• Platelet aggregation test: Measures how well the platelets in your blood clump together at the site of an injury.
• Von Willebrand screening

Treatments for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders

We know that your blood disorder needs a lifetime of care. Our expert team of specialists will help you find a treatment that allows you to live a full, active life. We’ll work to create a plan that best meets your medical, social, and physical needs. Your plan is designed around your age, overall health, family history, and the severity of your blood disorder. Your treatment options include replacement therapy, platelet therapy, anticoagulants, and pain management. Our expert team also offers promising new techniques for blood disorders.

Why do I need treatment?

Your blood carries nutrients and hormones to your cells and carries waste away. Bleeding and clotting disorders stop your blood from doing its job.

A bleeding disorder like hemophilia prevents clotting, while thrombosis causes clots to block the flow of blood through your body.

We evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment for you. Our wide variety of treatment options allows us to pick the one suited to your needs.

Personalized treatment plan

Because each person’s condition is unique, we evaluate your condition and determine the best treatment plan for you. Your treatment plan is based on many factors, such as your family history, overall health, and the severity of your bleeding disorder or clotting disorder. We work in partnership with you to create a treatment plan that improves your quality of life while meeting your medical, social, and physical needs.

Bleeding disorder therapy

Bleeding disorders occur when the blood does not clot properly. Therapies can replace the clotting factor that is missing or low in your body.

Therapy options for bleeding disorders:

• Replacement therapy: The best practice treatment option for bleeding disorders such as hemophilia and von Willebrand disease. The treatment works by taking concentrations created from recombinant proteins and injecting them into a vein. This replaces the clotting factor that is low or missing in your body.
• Medications: Given in pill form or injected into a vein.
• Topical medications: Including thrombin gel or fibrin glue applied directly to the affected area on or in the body.
• Immunosuppressant therapy or porcine factor therapy: For patients with acquired hemophilia.
• Non-factor therapy: Treatments that prevent or reduce bleeding episodes without directly replacing the missing clotting factor.
• Gene therapy: Delivers a functional copy of the missing clotting factor gene to prevent bleeding.

Thrombosis therapy

Thrombosis happens when a clot forms in your blood vessel. This clot may prevent blood from flowing normally. The clot may also move to your brain or lung, which can be life-threatening. We offer several therapies to treat thrombosis:

• Blood thinners, or anticoagulants: This is the best practice treatment option for clotting disorders such as thrombosis. The most common are heparin and low molecular weight heparin, both of which are given by injection under the skin or into a vein. A third anticoagulant called warfarin is given as a pill.
• Newer anticoagulant pills: These are effective for patients with different kinds of clotting disorders. Unlike warfarin, they do not require blood testing.
• Antiplatelet medicine: This helps to prevent clots from forming and growing.

Hemophilia and Thrombosis Treatment Center

Though there is no cure for hematology and thrombotic conditions, we offer our patients the full spectrum of replacement therapy, platelet therapy and anticoagulants, including new promising techniques. Our specialists work together to treat you as a whole person – considering not only medical needs but also social and physical needs.