Final answer:
Factor VIII inhibitors are antibodies that develop in response to treatment for hemophilia A, a genetic disorder affecting blood clotting. These inhibitors can significantly complicate treatment by neutralizing the effectiveness of factor infusions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients who develop factor VIII inhibitors mostly have a genetic disorder called hemophilia A, which accounts for about 80 percent of hemophilia cases. Factor VIII inhibitors are developed when the body's immune system attacks infused clotting factor therapies, considering them foreign, and neutralizes their effectiveness. Hemophilia B and hemophilia C are other forms, with deficiencies in factor IX and factor XI respectively. The development of inhibitors is a significant complication in the treatment of hemophilia, as it renders standard therapies less effective, thus posing challenges for managing bleeding episodes.
Genetics of Hemophilia
Hemophilia A and B are X-linked disorders that are primarily passed from a carrier mother to a male offspring, while hemophilia C arises from an autosomal chromosome abnormality. Females can only manifest the disease if they inherit a defective gene from both parents. Regular infusions of clotting factors can help in prevention, and the future may hold potential for genetic therapy.