What We Treat

Hemophilia

One of the most common hereditary bleeding disorders
X-linked genetic disorder, carried by females who have one normal X- chromosome and one X-chromosome with an abnormal copy of the hemophilia gene
Most common types are hemophilia A (a result of a clotting factor VIII deficiency) and hemophilia B (a result of clotting factor IX).
Less common types are a result of deficient clotting Factor II, Factor IX, Factor V, Factor V Leiden, Factor VII, Factor VIII, Factor X, Factor XI, and Factor XII

Von Willebrand Disease (vWD)

Von Willebrand Disease (vWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder
An estimated 3% of the US Population has vWD
vWD affects men and women equally, and can be passed on by either parent
The impact on women is considered greater because of bleeding caused by menstruation and childbirth

There are three types of vWD:

Type 1

Characterized by lower levels of Von Willebrand factor (VWF). It is the mildest and most common form. Type 1 rarely causes life-threatening bleeding.

Type 2

The amount of VWF is normal but doesn’t work effectively. Different gene mutations cause subtypes (2A, 2B, 2M and 2N) and each may be treated differently

Type 3

The most severe form of vWD and often requires replacement clotting factor

Thrombosis and Clotting Disorders

Thrombosis is a blood clot in a vein or artery that blocks the flow of blood in the circulatory system or to an organ.

Clotting conditions may be due to a family history of clotting, or a diagnosis based on a demonstrated genetic mutation. It can also be caused by an acquired condition which can occur alone or because of an autoimmune disorder.

If you experience one of more of the following, you may have a clot:

Leg pain – often in the calf or inner thigh
Swelling in an arm or leg – typically in one arm or leg
Chest pain
Numbness or weakness on one side of the body
Sudden change in your mental state

Our thrombosis physician specialist can provide a diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan to reduce your blood clot or manage your condition.

Platelet Disorders

Platelets are small, irregularly shaped blood cell pieces that play an important role in clotting blood. When an injury occurs and a blood clot is needed, the platelets activate and help plug the site of the injury. They attract other proteins needed in the clotting process and they help to form a stable clot. There are several ways or reasons that platelets may not work properly.

The specific problem may result in rare platelet disorders, such as:

BERNARD-SOULIER SYNDROME (BSS)

Causes a deficiency of glycoprotein lb, the receptor for vWF, which is important in clot formation
A person with BSS can bleed for a very long time before a clot forms. In fact, it may take more than 20 minutes for the bleeding to stop from even a small cut

GLANZMANN’S THROMBASTHENIA (GT)

Platelets lack glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (the binding sites for vWF) on the surface.
Platelets do not adhere or stick to each other as they should. Bleeding continues significantly longer than normal.

PLATELET STORAGE POOL DISEASE (SPD)

Rare disorders in which platelet granules are affected.
Chemicals inside the granules are pushed out into the bloodstream, signaling other platelets to form around the plug

Gaucher Disease

Pronounced, “go-shay”
Caused by a hereditary deficiency of the enzyme, glucocerebrosidase
Approximately 1 in 100 people in the general U.S. population are carriers for Type I Gaucher’s disease
Among people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, the rate of carriers is considerably higher, at roughly 1 in 15 people
Testing is available to accurately diagnose those people who have the disease or those who may carry the gene.
Diagnosis is available through a specialized blood test. Carrier status can be determined by analyzing a person’s DNA
Prenatal diagnosis is also available

Other bleeding disorders

In addition to deficiencies in Factors VIII and IX, there are numerous other rare clotting factor deficiencies that can cause bleeding problems.

Our on-site Thrombosis Lab provides timely testing and reporting on these Rare Factor Deficiencies.

FACTOR I DEFICIENCY

Also known as Fibrinogen deficiency, afibrinogenemia, dysfibrinogenemia, or hypofibrinogenemia. Factor I deficiency is a collective term for several rare inherited fibrinogen deficiencies. Fibrinogen may be absent from the blood altogether (afibrinogenemia), present in only very low levels in the blood (hypofibrinogenemia), or measurable in normal quantities but defective (dysfibrinogenemia)

FACTOR II DEFICIENCY

Also known as prothrombin deficiency

FACTOR V DEFICIENCY

Also known as Owren’s disease, labile Factor deficiency, proaccelerin deficiency or parahemophilia

FACTOR VII DEFICIENCY

Also known as Alexander’s disease, stable Factor deficiency, or proconvertin deficiency

FACTOR X DEFICIENCY

Also known as Stuart-Prower Factor Deficiency

FACTOR XI DEFICIENCY

Can also be known as Hemophilia C, Plasma Thromboplastin Antecedent (PTA) Deficiency, Rosenthal Syndrome.

FACTOR XII DEFICIENCY

Also known as Hageman Factor deficiency.