Other bleeding disorders
Although haemophilia is one of the most commonly encountered bleeding disorders, there are a large number of others caused by a lack of, or low levels of, other circulating clotting factors. Most of these are very rare and many, like haemophilia, are also inherited. Some of the other bleeding disorders are outlined below.
| Bleeding disorder |
Description |
| Factor I (1) deficiency |
- Very rare, inherited condition affecting equal numbers of males and females
- Joint bleeds uncommon, but bruising and oozing from small wounds common
|
| Factor II (2) deficiency |
- Affects 1 in 2 million people. Both men and women are affected
- Can also be caused by severe liver disease or ‘blood thinning’ drugs
- Symptoms include nose bleeds, heavy periods, joint and muscle bleeds
|
| Factor V (5) deficiency |
- Affects 1 in 1 million people. Both men and women are affected
- Causes nose bleeds, easy bruising, heavy or prolonged periods, bleeding after trauma, abnormal bleeding after surgery, joint and muscle bleeding
|
| Factor VII (7) deficiency |
- Affects 1 in 500,000 people. Both men and women are affected
- Can also be caused by liver disease, low levels of vitamin K or other problems with intestinal absorption
- Effects are usually mild, but include nose bleeds, bleeding from the gums, heavy periods and bruising. Joint bleeds are rare
|
| Factor X (10) deficiency |
- One of the most rare inherited clotting disorders
- Affects 1 in 1 million people. Both men and women are affected
- Found more frequently in areas of the world where marriage between close relatives is common
- Most people will not have symptoms, but bruising, joint bleeds and heavy periods sometimes occur in this condition
|
| Factor XI (11) deficiency |
- Also known as haemophilia C
- Affects 1 in 100,000 people. Both men and women are affected
- Most people experience little or no bleeding, but heavy periods and bleeding after surgery can occur
|
| Von Willebrand’s disease |
- Inherited clotting disorder caused by the absence of von Willebrand clotting factor
- Affects around 1% of the UK population
- Symptoms usually less severe than haemophilia but include bruising and excessive bleeding from small wounds
- Women often have heavy periods; joint bleeds are uncommon
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