Transcript Hemophilia
Research Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology “Georgi D. Efremov”, MASA
Hemophilia
What is:
Hemophilia is an X-linked congenital bleeding disorder
caused by a deficiency or dysfunctional coagulation factor
VIII or factor IX.
Hemophilia A is caused by low levels or absence of
clotting factor VIII in plasma, affecting 1 in 5,000 males;
Hemophilia B is caused by low levels or absence of
clotting factor IX in plasma, affecting 1 in 25,000 males
Although the two types have very similar signs and
symptoms, they are caused by mutations in different genes.
A definitive diagnosis depends on factor assay to
demonstrate deficiency of FVIII or FIX.
Symptoms:
The characteristic phenotype in hemophilia is the
bleeding tendency.
Symptoms in severe hemophilia arose later, when the
boy will start walking or running. The severity of bleeding in
hemophilia is correlated with the clotting factor level:
severely affected individuals have <1 IU/dl (<1% of
normal); moderate 1-5 IU/dl (1%-5% of normal); and mild
>5 - <40 IU/dl (>5% - <40% of normal)
Most bleeding occurs internally into the joints or
muscles.
Some bleeds can be life-threatening and require
immediate treatment
Accurate diagnosis of hemophilia is essential to perform
appropriate management.
Genetics / Inheritance pathways:
Hemophilia arises due to mutations in factor VIII (F8)
gene – hemophilia A or factor IX gene (F9) – hemophilia B.
Both F8 and F9 genes are on X chromosome, thus
hemophilia generally affects males.
Inheritance is generally trough maternal side.
Women have two copies of the X chromosome (XX);
They are not affected but they are genetic carriers for
hemophilia.
Males have only one X chromosome and a Y (XY); those
with a faulty clotting factor gene on their X chromosome will
have Hemophilia.
Analysis performed at RCGEB
“Georgi D. Efremov”
Intron 1 and intron 22 inversion detection in
factor VIII gene
Price
(МКД)
7.200
Analysis of the coding sequence in the factor
VIII gene by DNA sequencing method
50.000
Analysis of the coding sequence in the factor
IX gene using DNA sequencing method
15.000
Linkage-analysis for indirect detection of
affected X chromosome
10.550
Prenatal diagnosis in a families with high risk
of hemophilia
10.550
Carrier detection in a families with known gene
defect
10.550
When the mother is a carrier of a hemophilia gene and the
father has a normal copy of the gene, in every pregnancy,
there is 50% chance that the hemophilia gene would be
transmitted to the siblings. (Picture).
When the father ihas a hemophilia, all of his daughters would
be carriers, while none of his sons would have hemophilia.
Genetic testing:
The most common gene defect in hemophilia A is intron
22 inversion (45-50%) followed by intron 1 inversion found
among 5% of severely affected hemophilia A patients.
Moderate and mild phenotypes usually result from missense
mutations dispersed through the whole coding region, and
are peculiar to individual families. The comprehensive fVIII
mutation
database
(HAMSTeRS)
is
available
at
http://hadb.org.uk/.
Point mutations, small deletions/insertions dispersed
through the whole coding region of the factor IX gene are
cause of hemophilia B.
Importance of genetic testing:
Identifying the disease-causing mutation in males will
confirm the diagnosis with certainty
Determined molecular defect can predict the severity
of disease in newborn child
Identifying carrier status among female members of
affected families
Possibility for prenatal diagnosis in families affected
with hemophilia
Literature:
1.Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim;
# 306700 (Hemophilia A)
# 306900 (Hemophilia B)
2.Castaldo G, et al: Haemophilia A: molecular insights. Clin Chem
Lab Med 2007;45(4):450-461
3.Sukarova-Stefanovska E., et al. Molecular characterization of
hemophilia A in the Republic of Macedonia. BJMG, 5 (3&4), 27-35,
2002
4.Sukarova Stefanovska E et al., Genetic Inversions among
Hemophilia A patients from R. Macedonia and Bulgaria. Acta
Haematologica 120:192-194, 2008
RCGEB, 2013