Which disorder is characterized by a deficiency in clotting factors leading to excessive bleeding?

Hemophilia is indeed characterized by a deficiency in specific clotting factors, which leads to excessive bleeding. This genetic disorder primarily affects the blood's ability to clot normally, resulting in spontaneous bleeding episodes and prolonged bleeding following injuries or surgeries.

In hemophilia, the deficiency often involves factor VIII (in hemophilia A) or factor IX (in hemophilia B), both of which are crucial for the coagulation cascade, the series of biochemical events that lead to blood clot formation. The lack of these factors impairs the body’s response to bleeding, which is why individuals with hemophilia are at a higher risk for hemorrhages.

This condition is distinctly separate from other disorders listed. Thrombosis refers to the formation of blood clots in blood vessels that can lead to obstruction, whereas atherosclerosis involves the buildup of plaques in arteries, not directly related to clotting factor deficiencies. Coagulopathy is a broader term that encompasses various disorders affecting blood coagulation, including hemophilia, but it does not refer specifically to the deficiencies seen in that condition. Therefore, hemophilia is the most precise answer to the question regarding excessive bleeding due to clotting factor deficiencies.