Treatment and Care Options
This chapter of The Handbook is about recognizing and treating bleeding in a person with a bleeding disorder. It gives you the "where, what, and how" of treatment. Optimal care involves learning how to treat bleeding at home (home therapy) and being seen regularly at a Hemophilia Treatment Center.
People with bleeding disorders use a variety of medicines to treat bleeding, depending upon their diagnosis. People with moderate and severe Hemophilia may use factor concentrate (usually just called "factor") to treat most bleeds. Factor can be made from blood (plasma-based products) or not contain any human blood at all (recombinant products). People with VWD and platelet disorders may use desmopressin acetate (a non-blood product), platelets, hormone therapy, and factor concentrate.
This chapter tells you how to treat different kinds of bleeds. Treating bleeds the right way is only one part of taking care of a bleeding disorder. However, it is one of the main keys to success. Always talk to your hematologist (bleeding disorder doctor) before beginning a new treatment.
Finally, in this chapter you'll find the steps for preparing and using factor outside a hospital or clinic. Treating yourself this way is called home therapy or self-infusion. The directions for giving factor are not meant to replace face-to-face lessons given by your medical team. They are meant instead to be reminders of what is taught at the Hemophilia Treatment Centers. Your plan of care will come from the health provider you use for your bleeding disorder. This handbook is a reference.