Department of Pediatrics
Department of Pediatrics
The Department of Pediatrics

gulfstates logoDisorders

The Gulf States Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Treatment Center (GSHTC) is dedicated to providing the best and most clinically advanced care of persons with hemophilia and other coagulation disorders.


Disorders

Hemophilia and other Bleeding disorders

Hemophilia is the name for several hereditary genetic illnesses that impair the body's ability to control bleeding.  People with hemophilia have low or absent levels of clotting proteins such as Factor VIII (Hemophilia A), Factor IX (Hemophilia B), or Factor XI (Hemophilia C).  Hemophilia A and B are sex-linked disorders and affect one in 7,000 boys born in the U.S.  Other rarer bleeding disorders include deficiencies of Fibrinogen, Prothrombin, Factor V, Factor VII, Factor X, and Factor XIII and may occur in both boys and girls.

Von Willebrand disease (vWD) is the most common hereditary bleeding disorder, although it can also be acquired as a result of other medical conditions. It is caused by deficiency or abnormalities of von Willebrand factor (vWF), a clotting protein that is required for platelet clumping and stabilization of Factor VIII.  There are 3 main types of vWD, ranging from type 1, which is usually mild, and type 3, which is more severe.

Thrombophilia and other Clotting disorders

Thrombophilia is the name for a tendency to develop thrombosis (blood clots) due to an abnormality in the blood clotting system.  Some common causes of thrombophilia are the Factor V Leiden mutation, the Prothrombin gene mutation, deficiencies of protein C, protein s, or antithrombin III, the lupus anticoagulant, and elevated levels of certain clotting proteins.  Thrombosis may also be caused by other medical or surgical conditions, and is often treated with anti-coagulant medications such as heparin, low-molecular weight heparin, and coumadin.