Clinical and radiological assessment of joints in people with haemophilia in Assam, Northeast India: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Despite the availability of factor replacement therapy, including prophylaxis, to treat and prevent bleeding, haemophilic arthropathy continues to be the most common complication of haemophilia and significantly impairs the quality of life in people with haemophilia (PwH). Regular periodic assessment of joint status in PwH is essential to identify early arthropathic changes and prevent the development or progression of haemophilic arthropathy. Kinematic and kinetic assessment are preferable and MRI is the gold standard for diagnosing haemophilic arthropathy, but availability is limited in developing countries. HJHS and ultrasound in conjunction with HEAD-US have been shown to effective in assessing changes indicating arthropathy.

Keywords

• haemophilia
• joints
• arthropathy
• ultrasonography
• x-rays
• outcome measures