Why do Hemophiliacs have trouble clotting their blood after injury?

Hemophiliacs have trouble clotting their blood after injury due to a deficiency or abnormality in specific proteins involved in the blood clotting process. These proteins, known as clotting factors, play a crucial role in the cascade of events that lead to the formation of a stable blood clot.

In individuals with hemophilia, the affected clotting factor is either missing or present in reduced amounts or in a dysfunctional form, disrupting the normal clotting process. This deficiency impairs the body's ability to form a proper fibrin mesh, which is essential for trapping platelets and creating a stable clot. As a result, hemophiliacs experience prolonged bleeding and difficulty in achieving hemostasis, even after minor injuries or trauma.

The severity of hemophilia can vary depending on the extent of the clotting factor deficiency. Some individuals may have mild hemophilia, where bleeding episodes occur less frequently and are less severe, while others may have severe hemophilia, characterized by frequent, prolonged bleeding, and an increased risk of spontaneous bleeding into joints and muscles.

Management of hemophilia typically involves replacement therapy, where the missing or deficient clotting factor is infused into the bloodstream to temporarily correct the clotting defect and promote clot formation. This can be done prophylactically to prevent bleeding episodes or on-demand to control active bleeding.