[Joint status after prophylactic substitution. An investigation in hemophilic children and adolescents in the DDR].

The joint condition in 98 children and adolescents with severe or moderate types of haemophilia participating in a summer camp between 1987 and 1989 had been analyzed. This was done by the centers' report and on the other hand with testing the patients by aid of the score system recommended by the World Federation of Hemophilia. According to the centers' reports more than 50% of all patients seem to be free of joint contractures. But according to the more sensitive score system more patients are affected by discrete symptoms of the chronic arthropathy. There had been discovered big differences between the centers and an increase of the patient's score by age. Not seldom an impairment of the findings within a single year was recognized. The joint problems in haemophiliacs are solved by the prophylactic treatment in an incomplete manner only. Lacks in the sophisticated evaluation of joints, with the management of prophylactic treatment as well as adjustment to prevention lead to avoidable damage crippling the patient on later age.