The service sees patients with a variety of bleeding disorders including haemophilia, von Willebrand’s disease, other factors deficiencies and platelet disorders. Some patients may require urgent treatment for bleeding episodes or regular treatment for the reduction of bleeding risk. Occasionally, treatment may be required to optimize the condition prior to procedures and surgical intervention.
Haemophilia is a hereditary blood disorder that affects mainly the male population. This condition results from a deficiency of proteins essential for blood clot formation called clotting factors and impairs the body’s ability to control bleeding. Deficiency of factor VIII causes haemophilia A while haemphilia B is due to deficiency of factor IX. Deficiency of another clotting protein called von Willebrand factor gives rise to von Willebrand Disease. Less commonly, deficiencies can occur with other clotting factors such as factor XI and factor VII. These conditions are usually treated with infusion of the deficient clotting factor.
Bleeding due to clotting factor deficiencies can also be acquired as a result of the development of autoimmune antibodies and are called acquired haemophilia. These conditions are treated differently with a combination of medications that suppress the immune system and blood clotting agents.
The haemophilia service at SGH Haematology provides comprehensive care for people with bleeding disorders such as haemophilia A and B, and von Willebrand’s disorder. This includes a walk-in service for patients who need urgent factor treatment and haemophilia rehabilitation with physiotherapy to promote good joint health. Our haemophilia specialist nurse is on hand to assess and coordinate the care of people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders.
We also manage the National Haemophilia Registry which was set up at SGH in August 1995 to collect data on haemophilia and assist the care of people living with haemophilia and affected family members. The Haemophilia Support Group was started in 2006 to provide clinical care, emotional support as well as financial and genetic counselling to its members by our multidisciplinary team of clinicians, specialist nurses, medical social workers, physiotherapist and occupational therapists
