Which condition is characterized by a lack of blood clotting and is inherited?

Which condition is characterized by a lack of blood clotting and is inherited?

• A. Hemophilia
• B. Anemia
• C. Leukemia
• D. Thrombocytopenia

Answer: (A)

Disorders of blood clotting that are inherited are about missing or defective clotting factors that stop a proper clot from forming after an injury. The inherited condition described is hemophilia, a genetic deficiency of clotting factors—most commonly factor VIII (hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B). Because it’s inherited, it’s often passed on the X chromosome, so males are affected more frequently, while females can be carriers. People with hemophilia tend to have prolonged bleeding after injuries, easy or excessive bruising, and can experience spontaneous or deep joint bleeding if not treated. Treatment focuses on replacing the missing factor and managing bleeding risk; mild cases may use desmopressin to release stored factor IX or VIII. This differs from anemia (low red blood cells), leukemia (a cancer of blood-forming cells), or thrombocytopenia (low platelets), which involve other aspects of blood function rather than a genetic deficiency of clotting factors.

Disorders of blood clotting that are inherited are about missing or defective clotting factors that stop a proper clot from forming after an injury. The inherited condition described is hemophilia, a genetic deficiency of clotting factors—most commonly factor VIII (hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B). Because it’s inherited, it’s often passed on the X chromosome, so males are affected more frequently, while females can be carriers. People with hemophilia tend to have prolonged bleeding after injuries, easy or excessive bruising, and can experience spontaneous or deep joint bleeding if not treated. Treatment focuses on replacing the missing factor and managing bleeding risk; mild cases may use desmopressin to release stored factor IX or VIII. This differs from anemia (low red blood cells), leukemia (a cancer of blood-forming cells), or thrombocytopenia (low platelets), which involve other aspects of blood function rather than a genetic deficiency of clotting factors.