| Home > Health Services > Blood Disorders > Hemophilia | Printer Friendly |
The MCG Health System Comprehensive Hemophilia Treatment Center exists to improve the quality of life for all affected by hemophilia, related bleeding disorders and their complications by way of comprehensive care, counseling, educational programs, community service and research.
Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a sex-linked, genetic bleeding disorder characterized by a deficiency or absence of one of the clotting proteins in plasma. The result is delayed clotting in an affected individual. While deficiencies can occur in any of the clotting proteins, factor VIII deficiency (Hemophilia A) and factor IX deficiency (Hemophilia B) are the most common. The frequency of factor VIII deficiency is thought to be approximately 1 per 10,000 male births; for factor IX deficiency, the frequency is approximately 1 per 30,000 male births. Although hemophilia occurs predominately in males, females can carry the gene which causes hemophilia and pass it along to their offspring. Hemophilia is a lifelong condition for which there is no cure at this time. However, it can be treated. With proper medical care, a person with hemophilia can look forward to a normal life into adulthood. The goals of treatment are early recognition of bleeding episodes and appropriate, timely intervention to prevent complications. The effects of untreated bleeding in a person's joints are debilitating. Joint damage can be a major long-term problem for someone with hemophilia.
Von Willebrand Disease
Von Willebrand Disease (vWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder. Von Willebrand Disease is generally inherited on an autosomal basis and thus occurs with equal frequency and severity in males and females. The disease is due to a reduction or abnormality of a glycoprotein (called von Willebrand factor or vWf) in the blood that is necessary for normal platelet function. Because this protein serves as a stabilizer of factor VIII, vWf activity in the blood is ordinarily decreased in proportion to the reduction in measurable factor VIII. Symptomatic patients with von Willebrand Disease will usually present with bleeding from the mucous membranes, gastrointestinal tract, or urinary tract. They often have a history of easy bruisability, epistaxis, menorrhagia, or excessive bleeding after surgical or dental procedures. People with vWD rarely experience the joint and muscle bleeding frequently observed in people with hemophilia.
Adult Hemophilia Clinic Services
Hemophilia and Related Bleeding Disorders
- A physician, nurse and social worker are available to provide medical care, emotional support, and education about hemophilia and related bleeding disorders to clients and family members.
- The nurse and social worker can conduct educational sessions in the community regarding bleeding disorders and their complications.
- An assortment of literature concerning hemophilia, related bleeding disorders and HIV is available free of charge for clients and other interested persons.
- The Hemophilia Handbook is available free of charge to all clients living in Georgia.
- Referral for genetic counseling and information about carrier testing is available.
Medical and Nursing Services
- The MCG Health System Adult Hemophilia Clinic provides confidential HIV-antibody testing for clients, partners, or spouses and family members.
- Our nurse and social worker can provide updated information on HIV/AIDS treatments and protocols and offer private education and counseling sessions.
- We can provide written guidelines for the treatment of hemophilia and related bleeding disorders to local emergency rooms or private physicians.
- Our nurse can provide inservice education on bleeding disorders for emergency room staff, nursing personnel, and other medical professionals.
- A Physician-to-Physician hotline is available 24 hours a day. An emergency room or personal physician may call this hotline for assistance in the medical management of problems related to hemophilia.
Educational/Career Services
Vocational counseling and referral are available to patients who wish to explore career and educational options. Our social worker can refer patients for testing.Additional Information:
Adult Hemophilia Clinic Team
Director: Kavita Natarajan, MD
Nurse Coordinator: Marva Hall, RN
Social Worker: Chartara Gilchrist, BAClinic Hours
The MCG Health System Adult Hemophilia Clinic maintains a flexible clinic schedule and is available for consultation. Our office is open Monday through Friday with a hematologist on call 24 hours a day.If you would like further information about any of these services, or to make an appointment, please call the the Health Care Referral Center at (706) 721-CARE (2273) or the adult Hemophilia Clinic at 706-721-0870.
Pediatric Hemophilia Clinic Services
Our Pediatric Comprehensive Hemophilia Treatment Center is a part of the Children's Medical Center at the MCG Health System and offers a variety of services including:
- Diagnosis, evaluation and management strategies to all hereditary hemorrhagic or thrombotic disorders.
- Comprehensive annual evaluation including medical, social, nursing, dental, nutritional, physical therapy, surgical and genetic evaluation.
- Routine follow-up and management of bleeding or thrombotic disorders.
- Evaluation and management of complications associated with bleeding or thrombotic disorders.
- Referral to multiple pediatric subspecialties.
- Physical therapy.
- Multidisciplinary approach to hemostatic disorders requiring surgery.
- Information regarding current clinical trials.
Pediatric Hemophilia Team
Our full time physician and director, Afshin Ameri, M.D. has comprehensive experience in the management of hereditary bleeding disorders. He is board certified in Pediatric Hematology Oncology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Our nurse coordinator, Valerie Crenshaw, R.N., and social worker, Amy Green L.M.S.W. , are available for education and counseling.Clinic
Our clinic meets in the Adult Sickle Cell Clinic at MCG Health System. You may contact the Health Care Referral Center at (706) 721-CARE (2273). The Pediatric Hematology Oncology Clinic may be reached at 706-721-3626.
For more information on hemophilia or von Willebrand Disease (vWd), you may contact the National Hemophilia Foundation.
For appointments, referrals or more information, please contact the
MCG Health Care Referral Center at:
706-721-CARE (2273)
800-736-CARE (2273)
Or, click here to request an appointment online.
