Haemophilia, the official journal of the world federation of haemophilia aims to be an international journal dedicated to the exchange of information regarding the comprehensive care of haemophilia and other clotting factor deficiencies. As such it provides a range of up-to-date material on the wide spectrum of problems related to bleeding disorders including haemophilia. Although there is already a great deal of scientific literature relating to bleeding disorders, much of this has been scattered among a variety of specialist journals and it is timely and useful to see this information concentrated in one journal.

Haemophilia is certainly very specialised and unlikely to appeal to any general academic readership but it will be invaluable for all concerned with research into and practical management of bleeding disorders. This would include all health professionals involved in the care of patients with haemophilia and related bleeding disorders. The comprehensive management of these patients involves a surprisingly wide spectrum of specialists including laboratory scientists, clinical haematologists, general and orthopaedic surgeons, physicians specialising in liver disease, specialist nurses and counsellors. The Haemophilia Society will also find the journal of particular interest as will quite a number of patients with haemophilia.

The journal is presented in a clear and palatable format with a good mix of review articles, original scientific articles and case presentations.

The original presentations are drawn from a reasonable range of topics encompassing both clinical and laboratory issues and include material from a wide geographical base. The interest and scope of the journal has been increased by the inclusion of an historical annotation relevant to changes in haemophilia treatment and by a section containing relevant abstracts from other journals. This is in line with the journal's aim of bringing relevant literature on haemophilia management together.

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The editorial board contains an impressive list of well-known international experts in the field of bleeding disorders and there should be no problem in ensuring that the quality of the original scientific papers continues to be of the high standard found in the issues of the journal so far released.

In summary this is an excellent journal destined for a specialised readership. It has the potential to further the sucessful development of the care of haemophiliac patients by bringing together relevant articles in one journal.

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Sonia Swart is consultant haematologist, Northampton General Hospital, Northampton.