Comprehensive care for patients with hemophilia: an expanded role in reducing risk for human immunodeficiency virus.

ABSTRACT

Hemophilia is an inherited coagulation disease that affects approximately 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 males worldwide. Chronic joint disease and other long-term complications of recurrent bleeding persist in patients with hemophilia despite improved and more available clotting protein concentrates. The best care can be provided to patients who are followed regularly in specialized treatment centers. Services of every "comprehensive" hemophilia treatment center (HTC) have expanded since previous treatment with clotting factor concentrates infected many hemophilics with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Each HTC offers therapeutic, educational, and counseling expertise in care for the complications of HIV. A nationwide network of specialists now provides care for patients with hemophilia and related congenital abnormalities. In Region VI (Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas), the treatment centers and their affiliates provide medical, psychosocial, orthopedic/physical therapy, dental, and case management services. Extramural funded research programs provide care and laboratory testing at no cost to individual subjects.