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Bleeding Disorders
Alternate Names : Coagulopathy
DefinitionBleeding disorders are a group of conditions of the blood clotting (coagulation) system in which bleeding is prolonged and excessive.
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Normal blood coagulation is a complex process involving as many as 20 different plasma proteins, which are known as blood clotting or coagulation factors. Normally, these factors interact with other chemicals to form a substance called fibrin that stops bleeding. When certain coagulation factors are deficient or missing, the process is impaired. Bleeding problems can range from mild to severe.
Some bleeding disorders are present at birth and are caused by rare inherited disorders. Others are developed during certain illnesses (such as vitamin K deficiency or severe liver disease), or treatments (such as use of anticoagulant drugs or prolonged use of antibiotics).
Bleeding disorders can also result from a decreased number of (or impaired function of) platelets, the blood cells that promote blood clotting. These disorders can also be either inherited or acquired. The acquired forms often arise from the side effects of certain drugs.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Bleeding Disorders Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Bleeding Disorders Symptoms & Signs
• Bleeding Disorders Prevention
• Bleeding Disorders Diagnosis & Tests
• Bleeding Disorders Treatment
• Bleeding Disorders Prognosis
• Bleeding Disorders Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Congenital Antithrombin III Deficiency
• Congenital Protein C or S Deficiency
• DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation)
• Drug-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia
• Factor II Deficiency
• Factor V Deficiency
• Factor VII Deficiency
• Factor X Deficiency
• Factor XII (Hageman Factor) Deficiency
• Hemophilia A
• Hemophilia B
• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
• Liver Disease
• Von Willebrand's Disease
Other Topics
• Bleeding
• Bleeding Into the Skin
• Nosebleed Injury
• Vitamin K
Review Date : 6/5/2003
Reviewed By : Ezra E. W. Cohen, M.D., Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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