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Abnormal
Something that is not normal. For example, abnormal bleeding.
Acquired hemophilia
A form of hemophilia in which the body starts producing antibodies that fight its own blood-clotting proteins.
Administer
In hemophilia, to apply to the body through infusion.
Antibodies
Cells of the immune system that fight and destroy viruses and bacteria that can cause infection.
Bleeding
In hemophilia, a collection of blood in an area, such as a muscle or joint.
Blood clotting
Also known as coagulation. It is the process of turning some of the elements in the blood into a clot. Blood clotting is the result of a sequence of actions and reactions that involve several different proteins in the blood.
Bolus
A large dose of medicine that is given at the start of treatment to raise blood-level concentrations to a therapeutic level.
Bypassing agent
A product that treats a bleed without the need for Factor VIII (8) or Factor IX (9).
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Circumcision
Removal of a man’s foreskin.
Classic hemophilia
Another name for hemophilia A, the most common type of hemophilia.
Clot
The thickened mass of blood and cells your body forms to stop the bleeding at the place where you have been injured.
Clotting
The process of forming into a clot or clots.
Clotting assay
A blood test to determine what specific bleeding disorder a person has, based on a prolonged prothrombin time (PT) or activated partial
thromboplastin time (aPTT) previously measured.
Clotting (coagulation) factors
Substances in the blood that work together with platelets to form a fibrin clot in an injured blood vessel and stop bleeding. Clotting factors are named using Roman numerals (Factor I [1] to Factor XIII [13]).
Clotting time
The time required for blood to clot.
Congenital Factor VII (7) deficiency
A bleeding disorder in which there are low levels of Factor VII in the blood.
Control
In hemophilia, to cause reduction in something, such as swelling or bleeding.
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Deficiency
A lack or shortage of something.
Diluent
A substance that changes the consistency of something else. For example, water dilutes iced tea powder to make tea that people drink.
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Excessive
Too much of something or more of something than is thought to be normal. For example, too much bleeding.
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Factor
A protein in the blood that helps form blood clots.
Factor IX (9)
One of the 13 clotting-factor proteins that helps form blood clots.
Factor VII (7)
One of the 13 clotting-factor proteins that helps form blood clots.
Factor VII (7) deficiency
A rare bleeding disorder in which the blood has low levels of Factor VII. Factor VII is important in the blood-clotting process because it binds to blood cells near the location of an injury and to activated platelets, setting the clotting process in motion.
Factor VIII (8)
One of the 13 clotting-factor proteins that helps form blood clots.
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Gene
A section of DNA. Each gene on a strand of DNA contains certain genetic traits that have been passed on from parents to child.
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Hemophilia
A clotting disorder that occurs mostly in males. The disorder makes bleeding hard to control.
Hemophilia A
A bleeding disorder caused by lack of Factor VIII (8). It is sometimes called classic or standard hemophilia.
Hemophilia B
A bleeding disorder caused by lack of Factor IX (9).
Hemophilia treatment center (HTC)
A medical facility that specializes in the comprehensive treatment of hemophilia and other clotting disorders.
Hemophilia with inhibitors
A bleeding disorder where the body fights against the factor used to treat hemophilia.
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Immune system
A mechanism within the body used to protect itself from harmful substances.
Infusion
The injection of medicine directly into a vein using a needle and syringe.
Inhibitor
A substance made by the body that attacks factor so it cannot work as well. For example, a Factor VIII (8) inhibitor would keep Factor VIII from working with other factors and platelets to stop bleeding.
Initiation
An action that makes something start—for example, initiation of treatment to stop a bleed.
Internal bleeding
Bleeding inside the body, in tissues or organs.
Intravenous
Injected into a vein.
Invasive procedure
Most often referred to as surgery, because the doctor enters the body through an incision to repair damage.
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There are currently no glossary items for the letters "J," "K," and "L."
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Menstrual
The menstrual cycle consists of a number of bodily changes associated with the development of an egg and the possibility of pregnancy.
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Neutralize
To counteract the effect of something so that it is not capable of producing change.
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There are currently no glossary items for the letter "O."
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Plasma
The fluid part of the blood that contains clotting factors and other proteins.
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There are currently no glossary items for the letter "Q."
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Recombinant
Genetically engineered DNA. Made without human blood or plasma.
Reconstitution
Adding liquid to prepare a medicine.
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Spontaneous
Something that happens on its own, for what seems like no reason. For example, spontaneous bleeding does not appear to have a specific cause.
Stability
Resistance to chemical change of something in its original state. For example, room temperature stability of a drug means some heat or cold will not change the way a drug works.
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Thrombosis
An event that takes place when veins or arteries become blocked by platelets that are working to "plug" an injury, preventing blood from flowing normally through the body, and possibly causing a stroke.
Thrombotic
Relating to or caused by thrombosis. Thrombosis is an event that takes place when veins or arteries become blocked by platelets that are working to "plug" an injury, preventing blood from flowing normally through the body, and possibly causing a stroke.
Titer
Concentration or strength of a substance; measures the strength of an inhibitor in a person’s blood.
Tolerability
Able to put up with or endure.
Tolerate
The ability to endure doses of a medicine.
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There are currently no glossary items for the letter "U."
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Viral
Caused by a virus.
Virus
A pathogen or carrier of disease that enters healthy cells and reproduces in large numbers, which then spread through the bloodstream.
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There are currently no glossary items for the letters "W," "X," "Y," and "Z."
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