This chapter focuses on the various etiologies for intracerebral hemorrhage (CH), ischemic stroke (IS), transient ischemic attack (TIA), and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) that are caused by blood disorders. Bleeding disorders may be inherited or acquired. They include thrombocytopenia and platelet function disorders, coagulation factor deficiencies, excessive anticoagulation and hemorrhagic complications after thrombolysis. Blood disorders associated with myeloproliferative diseases and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) can cause both bleeding and thrombosis. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), the anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) are conditions that cause thrombocytopenia but are more frequently responsible for thrombosis than for bleeding. Blood transfusion therapy is recommended as the most important intervention for primary stroke prevention and secondary stroke prevention in children with sickle cell disease. Cytoreduction with hydroxyurea reduces the incidence of thrombosis in essential thrombocythemia, and aspirin reduces the incidence of thrombotic events in polycythemia vera.

Excessive or abnormal vaginal bleeding are the most common symptoms when women present to a gynaecologist. Undiagnosed bleeding disorders, especially Von Willebrand's disorder, can be the under-lying cause of menorrhagia in a significant proportion of women. This chapter aims to increase awareness and provide basic information about these relatively uncommon disorders. Immune idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (lTP) in adults is usually a chronic disorder with an insidious onset of minor bleeding symptoms. Menorrhagia and dysmenorrhoea adversely affect women's quality of life and may have a major influence on lifestyle and employment. DDAVP (1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin) nasal spray increases von Willebrand factor (VWF) and FVIII and can be used as a home treatment for some women with bleeding disorders. Increased awareness among clinicians of these problems and the treatment options available are essential to improve quality of life and avoid unnecessary surgical intervention.