subject: Hemophilia Patients Rely on Coagulation Products [print this page] Hemophilia Patients Rely on Coagulation Products
Coagulation products, also known as factor products, are proteins in blood plasma that are responsible for effective clotting of blood. A small segment of the population has a deficiency of factor VIII, known as hemophilia A, or a deficiency of factor IX, known as hemophilia B.
Hemophilia is a lifelong disorder with no cure at the present time. FFF Enterprises in Temecula, Calif., is the nation's leading distributor of coagulation products and other biopharmaceuticals. Hemophilia is rare; the disease affects 1 in every 5,000 to 10,000 males, and there are approximately 20,000 people in the United States living with hemophilia. Hemophilia is an inherited disease. It is incurable, but symptoms can be treated with coagulation products.
People with hemophilia have a deficiency of a blood protein or "clotting factor," and that makes something as common as a nose bleed or having a tooth pulled dangerous for them. Coagulation products are used to help combat this problem by restoring the missing factor. Serious complications can result from bleeding into the joints, muscles, brain, or other internal organs. In severe cases of hemophilia, heavy bleeding occurs after minor trauma or even in the absence of injury (spontaneous bleeding). Milder forms of hemophilia do not involve spontaneous bleeding, and the condition may not become apparent until abnormal bleeding occurs following surgery or a serious injury. That's why patients with this rare disease depend on companies like FFF Enterprises who distribute essential, life-sustaining coagulation products.
The cost of care for a blood disorder requiring treatment with coagulation products has risen dramatically over the years. New expensive methods have been developed to produce factor that is free of life-threatening viruses and blood-borne pathogens. A person with severe hemophilia can easily spend $180,000 or more in annual coagulation product cost and medical care. Complications such as major surgery can increase the costs dramatically. Treatment for hemophilia and other blood disorders endeavors to replace the missing factor through the intravenous administration of coagulation products. Protocols vary depending on the severity of the condition and the specific disease state.
