TREATMENT
Fresh Frozen Plasma
One treatment for Hypofibrinogenemia is to give fresh frozen plasma. Fresh frozen plasma is a transfusion of plasma, donated from another person, which is given in a vein. It contains fibrinogen and other clotting factors that will help the body to stop bleeding; but it also contains anti-clotting factors that will help to prevent a blood clot that prevents blood flow through veins. Mostly, people diagnosed with Hypofibrinogenemia will only need treatment when injury occurs, before more invasive dental work and before surgeries.
Cryoprecipitate
Cryoprecipitate is a transfusion of plasma, donated from another person, which is given in a vein. It contains fibrinogen and three of the clotting factors. Cryoprecipitate will provide fibrinogen to aid in making a blood clot to stop bleeding. It does not contain anti-clotting factors so should not be given to someone who has a strong family history of blood clots or has had blood clots themselves.
Amicar/Lysteda (Aminocaproic Acid/Tranexamic Acid)
Amicar and Lysteda are oral medications that work very well for bleeding of mucous membranes such as nose and mouth bleeding. Lysteda is also used for heavy menstrual bleeding. When bleeding occurs, the body tries to heal the area by making a clot that will plug the hole to stop bleeding. This clot will stay there for about four days. After these four days, chemicals in the body are triggered to breakdown the clot. This is called fibrinolysis. Amicar and Lysteda are called anti-fibrinolytic medications because it stops fibrinolysis. A person with a bleeding disorder needs more time for healing because they cannot make a strong clot to heal the area of bleeding. Amicar and Lysteda stops the body from breaking the clot down. This gives the blood vessels more time to completely heal and prevents prolonged bleeding and rebleeding.
Complications
Bleeding can occur anywhere in the body. Usually bleeding is caused by injury, surgery or dental procedures.
Complications from Hypofibrinogenemia can include:
- Prolonged bleeding leading to anemia
- Bleeding in joints leading to arthritis or damage to joints
- Damage to the brain (Head injury resulting to bleeding inside the skull)
- Difficulty breathing (Due to bleeding in the neck or lungs after injury)
- Paralysis (Due to bleeding in the spinal column after injury)