Definition

Noun: * A specific, inherited blood clotting disorder caused by a congenital (present from birth) deficiency or dysfunction of clotting factor VIII (Factor Eight). This condition is an X-linked recessive trait, meaning it occurs almost exclusively in males.

Usage

• The term is used in medical, clinical, and genetic contexts to specify the most common type of hemophilia.
• It is often contrasted with other clotting disorders like haemophilia B (Factor IX deficiency) or von Willebrand disease.

Examples

• "The patient was diagnosed with haemophilia A after presenting with prolonged bleeding following a minor injury."
• "Management of haemophilia A typically involves regular infusions of recombinant factor VIII."
• "Genetic counseling is recommended for families with a history of haemophilia A."

Advanced Usage

• Severity Classification: The condition is often described by its severity, which correlates with the level of functional factor VIII activity in the blood: , , or .
• Inhibitor Development: A serious complication is the "development of inhibitors," where the patient's immune system produces antibodies against the therapeutic factor VIII.

Variants and Related Words

• Hemophilia A: The American English spelling.
• Classic haemophilia: A traditional synonym.
• Factor VIII deficiency: A descriptive medical term for the underlying cause.
• Haemophilia (noun): The general term for the group of bleeding disorders that includes haemophilia A and B.

Synonyms

• Classic haemophilia
• Factor VIII deficiency

Antonyms

• There is no direct medical antonym. One could refer to a or the absence of a bleeding disorder.

Notes

• The term itself is not typically used in idioms or phrasal verbs due to its highly specific medical nature.
• The 'a' in 'haemophilia A' is not an article but part of the proper name, distinguishing it from other types. It is often capitalized.

Noun

1. hemophilia caused by a congenital deficiency of factor VIII; occurs almost exclusively in men