Neurologic complications in Hemophilia: A study in 214 cases

Abstract: Intracranial hemorrhage and entrapment neuropathy are the most serious and disabling complications in hemophilia.The occurance of these neurological complications was studied in 214 hemophiliac patients during a 3 month period. Nine patients (4.2%) suffered intracranial hemorrhage (One epidural and others intracerebral). All of intracranial hemorrhage patients had the sevee form of disease (<1% factor VIII or IX). 6 out of 9 intracranial hemorrhage cases mentioned a history of head trauma. Entrapment neuropathy was presen in 10 patients (femoral neuropathy 5, ulnar n. 3, radial n. 1 median n. 1) all of entropament neuropathy patients described a history of trauma to the extremities. Eight patients in the latter group had severe disease and two patients had moderate disease (1-5%). The proportion of intracranial hemorrhage following head trauma (20% in this series) was greater than other studies. In conclusion, early diagnostic evaluation and replacement therapy may be beneficial in hemophilic patients with trauma.