Christmas Disease

Christmas disease, also known as haemophilia B, is a genetic disorder in which the blood does not clot properly.

Christmas disease follows X-linked recessive inheritance. As a result, the disease is almost exclusively found in males and much rarer in females. Queen Victoria and her family are carriers of Christmas disease.

The recessive alleles result in little or no production of factor IX. Factor IX is a protein that is naturally produced in the body which is required in the blood clotting process. Consequently, patients with Christmas disease experience prolonged and unexplained bleeding.

There is no cure for Christmas disease. However, one can be treated with factor IX injections. Patients with Christmas disease are also advised to avoid activities which increase the chances of bleeding.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/hemophilia-b#treatments

https://hemophilianewstoday.com/hemophilia-type-b/

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hemophilia/facts.html

https://hemophilianewstoday.com/2017/08/24/six-famous-people-with-hemophilia/

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