Hemophilia

Diagnosis

Other inherited or acquired bleeding disorders create symptoms similar to those of hemophilia. The first step in diagnosing hemophilia is an interview with the patient. During that interview, the physician records the medical history of the patient and the patient's family. The next step is a physical examination, followed by blood tests. The specialized blood tests used at Mayo Clinic gives the physician information about the length of time it takes blood to clot and whether any clotting factors are at low levels or missing completely. With that information, the treatment team can classify the condition as mild, moderate, or severe hemophilia A or B, or as another bleeding disorder.

Types of Hemophilia

Patients with a low level of clotting factor VIII, or none at all, are diagnosed with hemophilia A. Those who have a low level of clotting factor IX, or none at all, are classified as having hemophilia B. People with very low levels of clotting factor XI can develop a bleeding disorder called hemophilia C.