What is the standard therapy for replacing the missing clotting factor in hemophilia?

What is the standard therapy for replacing the missing clotting factor in hemophilia?

• A. Antibiotics.
• B. Platelet transfusion.
• C. Bleeding management with vitamin K.
• D. Replacing the missing blood clotting factor by infusion.

Answer: (D)

Hemophilia is caused by a deficiency of a specific clotting factor, so the standard treatment is infusing the missing factor (factor VIII for hemophilia A or factor IX for hemophilia B) to raise its level and restore proper clot formation. Replacing the exact factor directly addresses the underlying defect in the coagulation cascade, and can be used during a bleed or on a preventive (prophylactic) basis. Other options don’t target the missing factor: antibiotics treat infection, platelet transfusion helps mainly with platelet disorders, and vitamin K helps only if there is a deficiency of vitamin K–dependent factors, not a congenital factor VIII or IX deficiency.

Hemophilia is caused by a deficiency of a specific clotting factor, so the standard treatment is infusing the missing factor (factor VIII for hemophilia A or factor IX for hemophilia B) to raise its level and restore proper clot formation. Replacing the exact factor directly addresses the underlying defect in the coagulation cascade, and can be used during a bleed or on a preventive (prophylactic) basis. Other options don’t target the missing factor: antibiotics treat infection, platelet transfusion helps mainly with platelet disorders, and vitamin K helps only if there is a deficiency of vitamin K–dependent factors, not a congenital factor VIII or IX deficiency.