Which condition is a defect in blood clotting and primarily linked to clotting factor VIII?

Which condition is a defect in blood clotting and primarily linked to clotting factor VIII?

• A. Hemophilia A
• B. Hemophilia B
• C. Marfan syndrome
• D. Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Answer: (A)

Hemophilia A is indeed a condition caused by a deficiency or defect in clotting factor VIII, which is essential for normal blood coagulation. This genetic disorder primarily affects males and is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern. Individuals with Hemophilia A have difficulty forming blood clots due to the impaired function of factor VIII, leading to prolonged bleeding after injuries, surgeries, or even spontaneous bleeding episodes. The relationship between Hemophilia A and clotting factor VIII specifically underscores why this condition is recognized as a distinct variant of hemophilia, differentiating it from Hemophilia B, which is linked to a deficiency in clotting factor IX. In contrast, Marfan syndrome is a connective tissue disorder that affects the skeleton, heart, and blood vessels but does not directly impact blood clotting. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe form of muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, which primarily affects muscle tissue, not the clotting factors involved in hemostasis. Thus, the link between Hemophilia A and factor VIII establishes it as the correct answer regarding blood clotting defects.

Hemophilia A is indeed a condition caused by a deficiency or defect in clotting factor VIII, which is essential for normal blood coagulation. This genetic disorder primarily affects males and is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern. Individuals with Hemophilia A have difficulty forming blood clots due to the impaired function of factor VIII, leading to prolonged bleeding after injuries, surgeries, or even spontaneous bleeding episodes. The relationship between Hemophilia A and clotting factor VIII specifically underscores why this condition is recognized as a distinct variant of hemophilia, differentiating it from Hemophilia B, which is linked to a deficiency in clotting factor IX.

In contrast, Marfan syndrome is a connective tissue disorder that affects the skeleton, heart, and blood vessels but does not directly impact blood clotting. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe form of muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, which primarily affects muscle tissue, not the clotting factors involved in hemostasis.

Thus, the link between Hemophilia A and factor VIII establishes it as the correct answer regarding blood clotting defects.