Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by the inability to properly form blood clots. It is caused by a defected or absent blood clotting protein. Without this protein, stable clots cannot be produced. Weak clots are formed, but can be easily dislodged, leaving the victims to continue bleeding.
The disease is more commonly found throughout males (1 in 10,000) than in females (1 in 100,000,000). The reason for this is simple. The disease is a recessive gene found on the X chromosome. Males only carry one X chromosome. So if the chromosome is infected, the male has the disease. However, a female comes complete with two X chromosomes. Therefore, if one chromosome is infected, there is another to essentially "over-ride" the recessive trait.
Treatment
There is no cure for Hemphilia, but it can be treated. Treatments have only been made recently. Before now, only a few hemophiliacs could survive the reproductive age because any small cut or internal bleeding could be fatal. Even small bruises were deadly. However, now treatments can be made, though they are very expensive and could potentially tranfer the AIDS or HIV virus. The treatment itself is an insertion of products containing certain concentrated amounts of the missing or low amount of proteins needed to clot blood.
"The Royal Disease"
Hemophilia has played an important role in the European history. The disease suddenly appeared in the children of Queen Victoria. It became know as the "Royal Disease" as it spreaded through royal families in Europe by her descendents. The first hemophiliac was her eighth child, Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. As a child he was constantly guarded and kept from harm in fear of getting the slightest cut and dieing. However, all effort failed as he died at the age of thrity-one from a minor fall.
