Haemophilia in Poland

Summary.  The primary aim of this study was to analyse the data on 2269 haemophilic patients in the Polish National Register of Inherited Bleeding Disorders – 1953 haemophilia A patients and 316 haemophilia B patients. Haemophilia A occurred in 1512 families, haemophilia B in 240 families. In the majority of haemophilia A and B cases severe haemophilia prevailed (59.7% and 56.6% respectively). In about 50% of haemophilic patients, no family history of bleeding diathesis was reported. For haemophilia A patients the mean age was 30.9 years and for haemophilia B patients, 29.2 years. Prevalence of haemophilia in Poland is approximately 1:12 300 inhabitants (1:5600 males). The second aim was to describe the orthopaedic status of severe haemophilia patients and to relate this status to the type of replacement therapy they received prior to the study. Ninety‐two severe haemophilia patients (median age 26.0 years) were enrolled in the study. Right and left knee, elbow and ankle joints were evaluated clinically using the Gilbert scale. X‐ray examinations were evaluated according to the Pettersson scale. Knee joints proved to be most affected. Eighty‐four patients (91.3%) reported pain. Only one scored 0 on the Gilbert scale, another on the Pettersson scale. Thirty‐seven per cent of patients used orthopaedic equipment, either occasionally or constantly. Twenty‐five per cent had a history of orthopaedic surgery. Thirty‐eight per cent were unemployed with some form of social subvention. On‐demand treatment was applied. None of the patients received primary prophylaxis. The mean consumption of clotting factor concentrates was 68 054 IU per patient during the 12 months prior to the current study. These results indicate that in Poland all severe haemophilia patients above 20 years are affected by haemophilic arthropathy.