What is a common complication of untreated Hemophilia?

A common complication of untreated hemophilia is joint damage. Hemophilia is a genetic disorder that affects the body's ability to form blood clots due to a deficiency in certain clotting factors. This deficiency leads to prolonged bleeding or spontaneous bleeding episodes, especially into joints and muscles.

When bleeding occurs in the joints, it can cause synovitis (inflammation of the joint lining), which over time may lead to chronic pain, swelling, and ultimately significant joint damage. This damage is often progressive and can result in permanent disability if not properly managed through treatment and preventative care.

Effective management of hemophilia typically includes replacement therapy to provide the deficient clotting factors, which helps to prevent bleeding episodes and thereby protects the joints from damage. In untreated cases, the repeated bleeds into the joints can lead to a condition known as hemophilic arthropathy, which is characterized by joint degeneration and deformity.

The other options do not represent common complications directly associated with untreated hemophilia. While infections can occur due to various factors and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may be a concern in different contexts, they are not primary complications of hemophilia itself. Atherosclerosis relates to the hardening of the arteries and is