Hemophilia C (Rosenthal disease) is a very rare form of hemophilia. Hemophilia is a blood disorder that happens when your blood doesn’t clot so your bleeding slows down or stops. People who have hemophilia C are missing a specific blood protein, or clotting factors, that helps make blood clots. That’s why people may still bleed more than usual if they have surgery or certain dental treatments. Healthcare providers treat hemophilia C by giving people fresh frozen plasma from donated blood. The donated plasma helps blood to clot.
Hemophilia C (also known as Factor XI Deficiency or Rosenthal syndrome) is a rare form of hemophilia. Hemophilia is a blood disorder that happens when your blood doesn’t clot so your bleeding slows down or stops. People who have hemophilia C are missing a specific blood protein, or clotting factors, that helps make blood clots. Hemophilia C causes less serious symptoms than other hemophilia types. But people who have hemophilia C may still bleed more than usual if they have surgery or certain dental treatments. Healthcare providers treat hemophilia C by giving people fresh frozen plasma from donated blood. The donated plasma helps blood to clot.
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No, it’s very rare. Hemophilia C affects 1 in 100,000 men and women (or people assigned male/female at birth) in the United States. In comparison, hemophilia A affects about 12 in 100,000 men and hemophilia B affects about 4 in 100,000 men. Researchers aren’t sure how many women may have hemophilia A or B.
All three hemophilia types are inherited blood disorders that happen when a genetic mutation affects the blood clotting process. Here are some of the differences among the three hemophilia types:
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People with hemophilia C may develop uncontrollable or prolonged bleeding after major surgery, a very serious injury or giving birth. But they don’t have spontaneous bleeding, which happens when people bleed for no apparent reason. Most often, people with hemophilia C have unusual bleeding after dental surgery, having a tooth removed or surgery to remove their tonsils. Other symptoms include:
Hemophilia C is an inherited blood disorder. It happens when you don’t have one of the 13 clotting factors, or blood proteins, that help slow or stop blood flow. In hemophilia C, you don’t have the clotting factor or blood protein XI, sometimes called factor 11, because you didn’t inherit the F11 gene.
Normally, the F11 gene carries instructions on how to create factor XI. Hemophilia C happens when that gene mutates and becomes an abnormal gene. This abnormal gene may not make enough factor XI or may not make factor XI.
Males and females inherit hemophilia C when both biological parents pass on the mutated gene. People who inherit a normal F11 gene and an abnormal gene will carry hemophilia C, but they won’t have symptoms. Here’s information on what may happen if people with the abnormal gene have children:
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Healthcare providers diagnose hemophilia C by doing a physical examination, evaluating symptoms like bloody noses or bleeding after dental treatment, and asking about any biological family history of hemophilia or blood disorders.
There are two main tests that your healthcare provider will use to confirm your diagnosis:
In some cases, your healthcare provider may also request other tests, including:
Hemophilia C is sometimes difficult to diagnose because blood tests results, particularly clotting factor test results, don’t align with people’s symptoms. For example, a clotting factor test may show you have a very low level of clotting factor, but you don’t have any symptoms. Conversely, you can have hemophilia C symptoms even though your clotting factor level is normal.
People with hemophilia C may not need treatment unless they’re going to have surgery or other procedures. When they do, healthcare providers use a combination of fresh frozen plasma from donated blood and medication that keeps replacement clotting factors from breaking down. They may prescribe birth control pills for women who have unusually heavy or long-lasting periods.
No, you can’t prevent hemophilia C because it’s an inherited blood disorder.
Most people who have hemophilia C have mild symptoms that don’t cause serious medical
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Hemophilia C is very rare and rarely causes serious medical issues. Most people with hemophilia C don’t have symptoms until they’re adults, and those symptoms are usually quite mild. That said, you may develop bleeding problems after surgery or dental treatment. If you have hemophilia C, ask your healthcare provider about precautions you should take.
Last reviewed on 06/20/2022.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy