Hemophilia A in Afghanistan, the first report

Hemophilia A is the most severe congenital bleeding disorder with estimated incidence of 1 per 5000 live male birth. Afghanistan located within south Asia and central Asia have a considerable number of patients with bleeding disorders that is accompanied by low government resources and limited diagnostic facilities. This study aimed to evaluate different aspects of hemophilia A in Afghanistan for the first time. This study was conducted on 167 patients with hemophilia A who were referred to hemophilia center of Kabul city. The diagnosis of the disease was performed based on standard questionnaire, evaluation of clinical manifestations and family history as well as laboratory assays. Diagnose of hemophilia A was confirmed by coagulation factor VIII (C: FVIII) assay. The mean age and mean age at diagnosis were 13.7 +/- 2.4 and 1.4 +/- 0.7 years, respectively. The mean FVIII level was 0.7 IU/dl. The most common clinical manifestation was hemarthrosis, which was detected in 80% of patients. According to geographical distribution, 42% of patients are residents of Kabul Province. About 41% of patients were Tajik, whereas 37% were Pashtun. In Afghanistan, as a country with low number of diagnosed patients with hemophilia A because of limited diagnostic and treatment facilities, high amount of investments are required in order to improve the quality and quantity of hemophilic patients.