Hemophilia lowers societal participation

Little is known about the functional limitations severe hemophilia patients suffer from. PhD-student Frank van Genderen developed and validated a tool for measuring the limitations. Functional limitations account for over half of the impaired societal participation, it turns out.

In the Netherlands one third of 1600 hemophiliacs only have one percent clotting capabilities left. They suffer from bleedings – especially in elbows, knees, and ankles – which seriously damage these joints. This results in pain, functional limitations and decreased societal participation.

This is especially the case for patients in underdeveloped countries, which account for eighty percent of all hemophilia patients world wide. In these countries treating the illness with the necessary clotting factors is hardly an option due to economic factors. Only physiotherapy and revalidation remain.

Thesis: ‘Functional Limitations in Severe Haemophilia’
PhD-advisor: prof. dr. P.J.M Helders
Co-advisor 1: dr. H.M. van den Berg
Co-advisor 2: dr. N.L.U. van Meeteren