Von Willebrand disease
From WikiLectures
Von Willebrand's disease is one of the most common congenital blood clotting disorders. It affects 1 in 1,000 people (women as often as men). Mostly, however, these are mild diseases without more serious clinical manifestations.
It was first described by the Finnish physician Erik von Willebrand in 1924, but it was not until the 1950s that deficiency or malfunction of von Willebrand factor (vWF) was shown to be the cause.
Causes[edit | edit source]
- autosomal dominant inheritance mutation of the gene encoding the amount, functionality and structure of vWF → impaired platelet function, inability to bind plasma factor VIII
- the obtained forms were also described
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
- vWF is not among the plasma factors → it is not a coagulopathy
- impaired blood clotting – frequent nosebleeds (epistaxis), increased formation of bruises, heavier menstrual bleeding, there may be blood in the urine and stools, in severe forms bleeding into the joints
Basic examination[edit | edit source]
- blood count
- APTT
- Duke bleeding test
- examination of factor VIII
- tests performed may not be pathological in milder forms
Duke:
Classification[edit | edit source]
- Type 1
- light quantitative defect – the most common
- Type 2
- qualitative defect
- Type 3
- severe qualitative defect – the most severe form
Links[edit | edit source]
Related Articles[edit | edit source]
- Hemostasis disorders: Hereditary coagulopathies • Acquired coagulopathies • Bleeding conditions (pediatrics) • Hemorrhagic diatheses (pathology)
- Hemostasis • Hemocoagulation • Blood coagulation test • Bleeding test
- Von Willebrand factor
