Hemophilia B is characterized by deficiency in factor IX clotting activity that results in prolonged oozing after injuries, tooth extractions, or surgery, and delayed or recurrent bleeding prior to complete wound healing. The age of diagnosis and frequency of bleeding episodes are related to the level of factor IX clotting activity. In any individual with hemophilia B, bleeding episodes may be more frequent in childhood and adolescence than in adulthood. Individuals with severe hemophilia B are usually diagnosed during the first two years of life. Without prophylactic treatment, they may average up to two to five spontaneous bleeding episodes each month, including spontaneous joint or muscle bleeds, and prolonged bleeding or excessive pain and swelling from minor injuries, surgery, and tooth extractions. Individuals with moderate hemophilia B seldom have spontaneous bleeding, although it varies between individuals; however, they do have prolonged or delayed oozing after relatively minor trauma and are usually diagnosed before age five to six years. The frequency of bleeding episodes varies from once a month to once a year. Individuals with mild hemophilia B do not have spontaneous bleeding episodes; however, without pre- and postoperative treatment, abnormal bleeding occurs with surgery or tooth extractions. The frequency of bleeding may vary from once a year to once every ten years. Individuals with mild hemophilia B are often not diagnosed until later in life. Approximately 30% of heterozygous females have factor IX clotting activity lower than 40% and are at risk for bleeding (even if the affected family member has mild hemophilia B). As in males, bleeding severity generally correlates with factor levels. After major trauma or invasive procedures, prolonged or excessive bleeding usually occurs, regardless of severity.

Factor V deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder with variable phenotypic expression (summary by van Wijk et al., 2001).

Hereditary factor XII deficiency is clinically asymptomatic but results in prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Typically, homozygous or compound heterozygous carriers exhibit almost no (less than 1%) factor XII activity as compared with normal individuals, whereas heterozygotes display intermediate activity. Most of these individuals also lack immunologically detectable factor XII and are referred to as cross-reacting material (CRM)-negative (summary by Kondo et al., 1999).

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is characterized by mucocutaneous bleeding and excessive bleeding with trauma and procedures. Individuals with more severe forms of VWD are also at-risk for musculoskeletal bleeding. Mucocutaneous bleeding can include easy bruising, prolonged bleeding from minor wounds, epistaxis, oral cavity bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, and bleeding with hemostatic challenges such as dental work, childbirth, and surgery. Bleeding severity can vary widely in VWD, even between affected individuals within the same family. For some with VWD the bleeding phenotype may only become apparent upon hemostatic challenge, while others may have frequent spontaneous bleeding.