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Von Willebrand disease is a hereditary disorder of blood clotting. It occurs due to insufficient amount or malfunction of clotting factors which is called von Willebrand factor. This disease is one of the most common clotting diseases and it is widespread all over the world, especially in Scandinavian countries.
Von Willebrand Disease Symptoms
The typical symptom of this disease is bleeding in skin and mucosa – nosebleeds, bruises, heavy menstruations, bleeding gums associated with milk teeth loss. Bleeding in stool and urin are rare. After pulling the teeth out, bleeding is heavy and long, so the patient needs to be prepared with medication in the purpose of preventing the bleeding. Tendency for bleeding is different in every patient and certain families. Symptoms of light forms of the disease are decreased with patient’s age. Death caused by bleeding in this disease is very rare.
Von Willebrand Disease Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made by talking to the patient about the impediments and family diseases, by examining the patient and lab tests. Sometimes, false results appear in pregnancy, certain hormone disorders, fatigue, blood type 0.
Von Willebrand Disease Types :
- type I – the most common, “classic” type of the disease
- type I / III m-this disease type is rare and more severe. Some define it as a more severe form of type I, and others as type III. Symptoms occur only in childhood and bleedings are profuse.
- type IIa
- type IIb
- pseudo or platelet-type – this disease is a disorder of platelets that is similar to von Willebrand disease
- acquired von Willebrand disease – this group of diseases includes several diseases acquired through life, and that are similar to von Willebrand disease. This group of diseases is related to autoimmune diseases, leukemia and lymphoma.
Von Willebrand Disease Treatment
Treatment depends on the type and severity of the disease. DDAVP, cryoprecipitate and freshly frozen plasma are used for treatment. Replacement therapy with clotting factor which is missing is also used; after that a sharp increase of factor happens and it lasts for 1-2 days so this treatment is applied once a day. Factor giving is recommended before surgeries and tooth extraction. Acetyl-salicylic acid (Aspirin) can’t be given to these patients because of the danger of bleeding incitement.
