Bone mineral density — the amount of minerals in bone tissue — is markedly lower in children with moderate and severe hemophilia than their healthy peers as a result of recurrent bleeding episodes that damage their joints, according to a small, single-center study in India. Preventive, or prophylactic, treatment was…

This past week my adult son, Julian, made a decision that I didn’t like. I wanted badly to tell him how I felt and that his choice may not be in his best interest. I don’t think it’s essential to mention what he did as much as my reaction to…

I’m looking forward to attending the Hemophilia Federation of America’s annual symposium, running today through Saturday. I’ll be among the community I consider family. But it’s been a few years since I attended a large conference. I’m excited about reconnecting with old friends, but I’m also a bit…

Osteoporosis and other bone disorders are more common in hemophilia carriers than in the general population, according to an analysis of U.S. insurance data. Its researchers also found a higher rate of bone problems among people with von Willebrand disease (VWD), another inherited bleeding disorder. “This study highlights the need…

Managing money is an essential skill every couple must learn. From the moment they decide to live together, and especially after they decide to walk down the aisle, the health of their finances will always be a huge determinant of their happiness. This is true even if one (or…

I’m diligent about oral healthcare. I use an electric toothbrush, floss every day, and visit my dentist every three months. My reasons for this diligence are many, but mostly I am afraid of bleeding from dental procedures. Mouth and gum bleeding are common for those living with von Willebrand…

Boys with severe hemophilia A who switched to Kovaltry (octocog alfa), which replaces a missing clotting protein called factor VIII (FVIII), retained the therapy for longer in the body and had fewer bleeds, a study in China reported. Findings come from a head-to-head comparison of Kovaltry and three…

I often tell people to check my refrigerator if they want to track the development of hemophilia care in my family. For example, when my sons were small, the medicine they required, factor VIII, took up a full refrigerator, requiring us to buy a second one. As for other…

Hemophilia B patients who switched to Rebinyn (nonacog beta pegol), an extended half-life factor IX (FIX) replacement therapy, had similar or better responses than with their previous standard or extended half-life FIX replacement therapies, a real-world study in Canada suggested. The study, “Switching to nonacog beta…

“Demi-normal.” It’s a term I’ve coined to describe how my husband, Jared, and I both live with chronic illness. Most people are familiar with the prefix “demi-,” meaning “halfway,” “almost but not quite,” or “to an inferior degree.” For instance, a demigod‘s status is above man’s, but…