Alexei and Hemophilia

[Romanov_fan]

No, hemophilia is for life. Whether or not Rasputin helped Alexei or to what extent is another topic, but hemophilia doesn't magically disapear at any age. It's always an issue for the person who has it. Many hemophiliacs back then had short lives, but it's hard to know about Alexei. It's a myth Alexei would ever have been completely healthy.

[Sarushka]

so Rasputin said that Alexey would be absolutely healthy at 16. is it possible or one more myth???

Imperial Angel is correct that hemophilia is incurable -- even today. However, hemophilia is also unpredictable, so while he would never have been cured, I think it's possible that with a combination of luck and good medical care Aleksei *might* have enjoyed a relatively normal life.

[nena]

It is myth. Hemophilia was long life disease then.

[nena]

I've always wanted to have chronology of his attacks (caused by hurts). I read about 1907 (when fell from horse), 1912 (Spala) and late 1915/early 1916 one(nose bleeding). Well, by saying 'attack' I mean ones when he had hurt himself. And famous Tobolsk sledges down. I have heard it is rumor.

Some sources would be very helpful, also, did he have attacks every year?  True is, diary entries mention long recovering after those attacks, he wasn't able to walk, he had weight lost, etc.

[DNAgenie]

A scientific report in the latest issue of Science Express has confirmed that Alexei did carry a gene for Hemophilia type B, and both his mother Alexandra and one of his sisters, probably Anastasia, were carriers of the gene. The scientists have been able to extract DNA from the X chromosomes in bones of Alexandra, Alexei and his sister and have found a rare hemophilia gene in all three people.

Various news sites have details, including http://spittoon.23andme.com/2009/10/08/researchers-discover-the-true-identity-of-the-royal-disease/

[Kalafrana]

DNAgenie

Yes, I saw this too, and it certainly puts to rest any talk of survivors.

More generally, there is indeed no cure for haemophilia, although it can now be 'managed' much better than it used to be, and the danger of joint damage is much reduced. Alexei was never going to be healthy, and the effects of joint damage caused by bleeds would get worse as he got older. Some 20 years ago, as a trainee solicitor, I was involved in the HIV haemophilia litigation in the UK (in the 1980s most haemophiliacs then living were infected with HIV through contaminated Factor VIII and an action for negligence was brought against the NHS). My main role involved going through the medical records of about 30 haemophiliacs who were treated at a particular hospital, and it was noticeable that those in their 30s and 40s were rarely able to hold down jobs, partly because of their health and partly because of their education having been interrupted by long periods in hospital. They were also having to have hip and knee replacements as a result of earlier joint damage (obviously this would not have been possible for Alexei had he lived into adult life).

[Ally Kumari]

Supposing the missing sister was the carrier of Hemophilia, it would be Anastasia or Maria (I incline to the latter), which is quite "ironic" considering Maria was the one wanting to have a big family. Were the tests done also on the remains of other Grand Duchesses, or were they "lucky"?

[jgutmaker]

Supposing the missing sister was the carrier of Hemophilia, it would be Anastasia or Maria (I incline to the latter), which is quite "ironic" considering Maria was the one wanting to have a big family. Were the tests done also on the remains of other Grand Duchesses, or were they "lucky"?

My understanding is that the remains of the other Grand Duchesses suggested that they were not carriers (only the bones identified as Anastasia and of course, Empress Alexandra)

[Grandduchess Valeria]

So Olga and Tatiana did not have it but Anastasia and Maria?

[Kalafrana]

If the identifications are correct. As I understand it, only one of the girls seems to have been a carrier.

Ann

[Grandduchess Valeria]

An which one, Ann?

[Margot]

I beleive the general consensus is that Maria N. was the carrier due to the bleed she suffered during the famous tonsil operation! This is why people seem to assume that it was Maria's remains found with those of Alexei as the Hemophilia thingummy bob wahstsit DNA caboodle was found in the female remains. It is not set in stone but just a rational suggestion as only one daughter was a confirmed carrier due to DNA results and Maria seems the most likely candidate.

[Dust_of_History]

I beleive the general consensus is that Maria N. was the carrier due to the bleed she suffered during the famous tonsil operation!

Are there any medical records that confirm the tonsil operation? If she really had an operation I think it is very likely that she's the carrier. 

[Grandduchess Valeria]

Be careful, medicine says that thus a haemophiliac does not bleed more intensely than a normal person, but can bleed for a much longer amount of time.

I guess, that what Olga A. and others reported based on their sensibility for this theme and maybe - I don't pretend that! - they overestimated the indications. But thats just my opinion.

[Ally Kumari]

Quote from "The last Grand Duchess" by Ian Vorres:

"She (Olga Alexandrovna) recalled the panic which broke out at Tsarskoe Selo on the day that Grand Duchess Marie had her tonsils removed. It was expected to be a routine operation by Dr. Selerioff, whom, in fact, the Grand Duchess had introduced to Alicky. The operation had barely begun when the young Grand Duchess began to haemorrhage. Taken by complete surprise, the doctor ran from the operating table in utter fright. And it was then, in a moment of extreme crisis, that the strengh of Empress Alexandra was revealed. "Alicky calmly grabbed the trembling doctor by the arm and said quietly but sternly, "Will you please finish the operation, Doctor." He managed to do so succesfully, despite the persistent bleeding."