Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

During your assessment of a 19-year-old male, you are told that he is being treated with factor VIII. This indicates that:

1. he has hemophilia A

2. he has von Willebrand disease

3. he is undergoing chemotherapy

4. he has a clotting factor deficiency

The correct answer is: he has hemophilia A

The administration of factor VIII specifically points to a patient who has hemophilia A. This condition is caused by a deficiency or absence of this particular clotting factor, which is crucial for normal blood coagulation. In hemophilia A, individuals often experience prolonged bleeding due to their blood's reduced ability to clot properly, especially after injuries or surgical procedures. Treatment typically involves the replacement of factor VIII to manage and prevent bleeding episodes. While von Willebrand disease also involves clotting factor deficiencies, it primarily pertains to a deficiency of von Willebrand factor, which plays a different role in hemostasis. Chemotherapy is unrelated to factor VIII treatment, as it involves cancer management, and does not typically relate to bleeding disorders. Although it is true that patients with hemophilia A will have a clotting factor deficiency, the direct connection of factor VIII treatment is more specifically aligned with hemophilia A. Thus, identifying that factor VIII is being used leads directly to the conclusion that the patient has hemophilia A.