How is hemophilia A treated?

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Hemophilia A is caused by a deficiency of clotting factor VIII, so the main treatment is to replace the missing factor. Giving factor VIII concentrates directly restores the activity of the coagulation cascade, enabling proper formation of a stable clot during bleeding or around the time of surgery. These concentrates can be recombinant (synthetic) or plasma-derived (human), and they’re used both to treat bleeding episodes and for prophylaxis in patients with frequent bleeds. Desmopressin can be helpful in some people with mild deficiency because it releases stored FVIII, but it doesn’t work for everyone and isn’t sufficient for those with more significant FVIII loss. Platelet transfusion isn’t a targeted therapy for this problem, since the underlying issue is a missing soluble coagulation factor, not a platelet defect. Vitamin K addresses other coagulation factors and does not correct factor VIII deficiency.