Von Willebrand disease (patient information)

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Overview
Von Willebrand disease is the most common hereditary bleeding disorder.

What are the symptoms of Von Willebrand disease?

 * Abnormal menstrual bleeding
 * Bleeding of the gums
 * Bruising
 * Nosebleeds
 * Skin rash

What causes Von Willebrand disease?

 * Von Willebrand disease is caused by a deficiency of von Willebrand factor. Von Willebrand factor helps blood platelets clump together and stick to the blood vessel wall, which is necessary for normal blood clotting. There are several types of Von Willebrand disease.


 * Von Willebrand disease affects men and women equally. Most cases are mild. Bleeding may occur after surgery or when you have a tooth pulled. Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can make this condition worse. Bleeding may decrease during pregnancy.

Who is at highest risk?

 * A family history of a bleeding disorder is the primary risk factor.
 * In women with heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, von Willebrand is more common in Caucasian women than in African American women. The majority of women with heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding do NOT have Von Willebrand disease.

When to seek urgent medical care?

 * Call your health care provider if bleeding occurs without reason.


 * If you have von Willebrand disease and are scheduled for surgery or are in an accident, be sure you or your family notify the health care providers about your condition.

Diagnosis

 * Tests that may be done to diagnose this disease include:
 * Bleeding time (is prolonged)
 * Platelet aggregation test
 * Platelet count (may be low or normal)
 * Ristocetin cofactor test (the primary assay test used to diagnose von Willebrand disease)
 * Von Willebrand factor level (level is reduced)


 * This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:
 * Factor VIII level
 * Von Willebrand factor multimers (parts of the von Willebrand factor protein molecule)


 * Von Willebrand disease may be hard to diagnose. Low von Willebrand factor levels and bleeding do not always mean you have von Willebrand disease.

Treatment options

 * Medications such as desamino-8-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) can be given to raise the levels of von Willebrand factor, which will reduce the tendency toward bleeding.


 * Some types of von Willebrand disease do not respond to DDAVP. Tests should be done to determine a patient's specific type of von Willebrand disease before trauma or surgery occurs. A trial of DDAVP can be done before surgery to test whether von Willebrand factor levels increase.


 * The drug Alphanate (antihemophilic factor) is approved to decrease bleeding in patients with the disease who must have surgery or any other invasive procedure.


 * Blood plasma or certain factor VIII preparations may also be used to decrease bleeding.

Where to find medical care for Von Willebrand disease?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Von Willebrand disease

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

 * Women who have this condition generally do NOT have excessive bleeding during childbirth.


 * This disease is passed down through families. Therefore, genetic counseling may help prospective parents understand the risk to their children.

Possible complications

 * Bleeding (hemorrhaging) may occur after surgeries or other invasive procedures.


 * If you have von Willebrand disease, do not take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, without talking to your health care provider.

Source
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000544.htm