Joint involvement in patients with severe haemophilia A in 1957–59 and 1978–79

Abstract

Clinical findings of joint involvement in patients with severe hemophilia A were compared between 2 surveys made in 1957-1959 and 1978-1979. Permanent joint changes were seen in 50 (81%) of 62 patients in 1957-1959 and in 70 (86%) of 81 patients in 1978-1979. The incidence of permanent changes was the same in the 2 surveys in all 10-yr age groups, but the degree of involvement was less severe in the 2 youngest age groups in 1978-1979. Effective replacement therapy can delay but not prevent completely the development of progressive arthropathy in patients with severe hemophilia A.