At Paragon Healthcare Specialty, we understand that living with hemophilia is a unique experience for each individual. We are focused on providing superior levels of service, clinical expertise, and customized care plans to fit each patient’s lifestyle and individual needs.
- Our pharmacist remains on call 24/7, 365 days a year.
- We handle the referral process, making a smooth transition from your current provider.
- We manage insurance verification, reimbursement, and prior authorizations.
- We communicate regularly with your doctor for your safety and peace of mind.
- A full line of support items are available.
- Our staff members will connect you with a caring network of family support groups.
- We provide patient education and training as needed.
- Whatever you need, wherever you are, we ship to you overnight, complete with specialty packaging to ensure product is suitable for immediate use.
WHAT IS HEMOPHILIA?
Hemophilia is a rare bleeding disorder in which the blood doesn’t clot normally.
After an injury, people with hemophilia do not bleed more or faster than people without hemophilia, but they do bleed longer. They also may bleed internally especially in the knees, ankles and elbows. This bleeding can cause damage to organs and tissues and may become life threatening.
Hemophilia is usually inherited and caused by the absence or inactivity of clotting factor. Clotting factor is a protein needed for normal blood clotting. There are several types of clotting factors, and they work with platelets to help form a clot. Platelets are small blood cell fragments that are formed in the bone marrow and play a major role in blood clotting. When blood vessels are injured, clotting factors help the platelets stick together to plug cuts and breaks to stop the bleeding. Without clotting factors, normal blood clotting can’t take place.
There are two main types of hemophilia: A and B. If you have hemophilia A, you have little to no clotting factor VIII. About 80% of people with hemophilia have type A. If you have hemophilia B, you have little to no clotting factor IX.
Hemophilia can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how much clotting factor is in the blood. About 70% of people who have hemophilia A have the severe form of the disorder. People who don’t have hemophilia have a factor VIII activity of 50% to 100%. People who have severe hemophilia A have a factor VIII activity of less than 1%.
Hemophilia occurs almost exclusively in males (with rare exceptions). About 1 in 7,500 males are born with hemophilia (A or B) each year.
