Comprehensive health care clinic for hemophiliacs

One hundred hemophiliacs were examined at a formal comprehensive health care clinic. Sixty-eight percent had abnormal results of liver function tests, and 26% had spleens that were palpable. Measurement of range of motion of knees, ankles, hips, shoulders, and elbows showed a high incidence of hemophilic arthropathy and established a precise baseline by which to judge efficacy of therapy. Results of dental examination disclosed a 14% incidence of multiple severe caries, which is an incidence lower than that of the population as a whole. Examples of inadequate dosage of replacement therapy (16%) and chronic delay in application of self-therapy (14%) were discovered. An 8% incidence of hypertension was noted; prior experience suggests that the combination of hypertension and hemophilia may be lethal. Other clinical and laboratory data also illustrate the importance of a periodic, formally structured, comprehensive examination of hemophiliacs.