National survey of haemophilia and Christmas disease patients in the United Kingdom. Report on behalf of the Haemophilia Reference Centre directors of the U.K

Cause of death in hemophilia A patients in the United States from 1968 to 1979

Death data on 949 hemophiliacs for the years 1968-1979 have been analyzed. The median age at death has increased from 33 to 55 years. There was no evidence of new diseases caused by the more intensive therapy during this time interval. The leading infectious disease was hepatitis, accounting for eight deaths. Only one acute hepatitis death was listed after 1974, when sensitive tests for hepatitis B antigen screening of plasma were implemented. Cirrhosis was a primary or associated cause of death in 76 cases (8%) and pneumonia was a primary or associated cause of death in 62 deaths (6.5%). The types of malignancies in hemophiliacs were similar to those in the male US population with no evidence of excessive retrovirus malignancies prior to infection with HIV-1.

Treatment of haemophilia and related disorders in Britain and Northern Ireland during 1976-80: report on behalf of the directors of haemophilia centres in the United Kingdom

A five year survey of the treatment of patients in the United Kingdom suffering from haemophilia and related disorders was carried out on behalf of the directors of haemophilia centres. The survey showed an increase in the number of patients receiving treatment from the centres, a substantial increase in the total amount of therapeutic materials used, and an increase in the average amount of factor VIII or factor IX used yearly per patient. Home treatment became established for severely affected patients and accounted for roughly half of the total amount of material used. Study of the acquisition of factor VIII or factor IX antibodies (inhibitors) in patients with haemophilia A or haemophilia B showed no increase in antibodies during the survey period, despite the increased use of factor VIII and factor IX concentrates. The occurrence of acute hepatitis in treated patients was also studied and no increased incidence was observed. A near normal median expectation of life in patients with severe haemophilia A was found.

Oral bleeding in classic hemophilia

Charts of 132 patients with proved classic hemophilia were reviewed. The diagnosis of hemophilia was most often made after 6 months of age but before 2 years. Persistent oral bleeding led to the diagnosis in 13.6 percent of the cases. The oral site most often involved was the frenum of the lip. In the patient with proven hemophilia, oral bleeding accounted for 9 percent of those bleeding episodes requiring infusion therapy.