Bleeding Disorders
Alternate Names : Clotting Disorders
Bleeding disorders include a wide range of medical problems that lead to poor
blood clotting and excessive bleeding.
What is going on in the body?
Blood clotting occurs when blood changes from a liquid to a semisolid state.
Normal blood clotting should occur after trauma that causes bleeding. Within
seconds of an injury, tiny cells in the blood, called platelets, bunch together
at the site of the wound. Blood proteins, platelets, calcium, and other tissue
factors react together and form what is called a clot. A clot acts like a net
over the wound.
Over the next several days to weeks, the clot strengthens, then dissolves when
the wound is healed.
Bleeding disorders occur when the blood cannot clot normally. These disorders
can be present at birth or be acquired from other conditions.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
There are many causes of bleeding disorders. Some examples of causes include:
bone marrow disorders
cancer, such as leukemia
disseminated intravascular coagulation, which
is a condition in which the body's clotting system functions abnormally
pregnancy-associated eclampsia, also known as severe toxicity of
pregnancy
exposure to snake venom
hemophilia A and B, which are inherited blood disorders
immune system disorders, such as
allergic reactions to medicine or abnormal reactions to an
infection
liver disease
medicines used as blood thinners, such as aspirin, heparin, and
warfarin
medicines used to break up blood clots
organ transplant rejection
von Willebrand disease, which is an inherited blood
disorder
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