International Journal of Reproductive Research

Abstract

A lot of Jewish people have red hair. Some say that it is a strawberry blonde or ginger hair but most people classify red hair as being depigmented or auburn hair

For some unknown reason people with red hair tend to bleed excessively, this being particularly noted at operations or when an individual comes under the knife.

One often hears gynaecologists say that people with red hair bleed excessively, especially at caesarean sections.

Red hair is depigmented hair and occulocutaneous or Rufous albinism is associated with Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome. In this condition there is a defect or absence of dense granules in the platelets. For this reason the platelets do not aggregate adequately and they have a bleeding diathesis.

There is ceroid deposition in the reticulo-endothelial system. 

There may well also be a coagulation defect as Von Willebrand’s Disease is due to a platelet abnormality or deficient aggregation to Ristocetin.

They are particularly prone to mucousal bleeds and women present with menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding) or with epistaxis (nose bleeds are seen equally in both sexes!)

It may well be an auto-recessive disorder!

There is also an associated abnormality of Factor VIII ristocetin cofactor and multimeric abnormalities are picked up on rocket immunoelectrophoresis.

Ashkenazi Jews may well be prone to type IIa Von Willebrand’s disease.

Patients with Chediak-Higashi syndrome also suffer from hypopigmentation and are prone to infections and lympho-reticular malignancies (including lymphomas).

For these reasons people with red hair especially the Jewish population may well be prone to bleeding disorders or diatheses. Beware the blue-eyed blonde Jew!

References

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