Chronic Pain and Hemophilia

Hemophilia (A and B) are X-linked hereditary bleeding disorders whose severity depends on the level of coagulation factor (FVIII or FIX respectively). Bleeding is mainly from joints (hemarthrosis) and muscles (hematoma). Nowadays, treatment is based on preventive or curative intravenous infusion of coagulation factor concentrates. Despite these treatments, there is joint deterioration that can be responsible for hemophilic arthropathy and chronic pain. This pain may be related to excess nociception during acute bleeding, but it may also be neuropathic. There are only a few studies that have looked at pain in hemophilia, but it is accepted that the vast majority of patients (especially those with severe forms) suffer from chronic pain. Because patients have become accustomed to this pain and physicians are still not very aware of how to assess it, this pain is not treated effectively.

In order to better manage pain in hemophilia, it is therefore necessary to characterize their pain and to know the nociceptive or neuropathic component. The aim of our study is therefore to study the prevalence, the nociceptive or neuropathic profile, the chronic aspect of pain and the main locations of pain in hemophilia. In addition to raising the awareness of physicians in the centers about pain management using specific questionnaires, this survey will help to better define chronic pain in hemophilia of all severities.