| VonWillebrand Disease |
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| Von Willebrand Disease (vWD)
is an inherited disease affecting 1-2% of the population. VWD affects all
racial, ethnic and economic groups’ world wide. The symptoms for vWD
include; heavy and/or long menstrual cycles, excessive nose bleeds, easy
bruising and heavy bleeding after dental work, surgery, injury and
childbirth. VWD is a treatable disease when the proper diagnosis has been
made. |
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| Someone affected by vWD
does not have the ability to form the platelet plug, which helps to stop
bleeding. A person with vWD either does not have enough of the proteins
called von Willebrand Factor (vWF) to help stop bleeding or they have enough
vWF but it does not work properly. There are three types of vWD: Type 1,
which makes up 70-80% of people with vWD, is a lack of adequate numbers of
vWF to form a proper platelet plug. Type 2 affects 15-30% of people with vWD
and is when there is enough vWF present but it does not work properly. Type
3 is the rarest form of vWD and is when the person does not produce any vWF. |
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| Some of the most commonly
used treatments of vWD include: |
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| Hormone treatment with
estrogen and progesterone, the hormones found in oral contraceptives, can
raise the levels of Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor. This therapy can
be useful for managing heavy menstrual flow and other bleeding. For women
with Type 1 vWD, treatment with oral contraceptives might be the only
therapy needed. |
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DDAVP: (desmopressin
acetate) is a synthetic hormone. It works by causing the body to release von
Willebrand factor. DDAVP can be administered intravenously or through a
nasal spray. The nasal spray that is used to treat bleeding disorders is
called Stimate. People affected by Type 1 and 2a vWD typically use this
treatment.
Factor VIII Concentrate: some types of Factor VIII concentrates are rich in
von Willebrand factor. Humate- P is a well-known Factor VIII concentrate
product licensed to treat vWD. Factor VIII concentrates are infused into the
blood stream. Although these products can be used for all types of vWD,
individuals affected by Type 2 and 3 vWD are generally the patients
prescribed such a treatment.
Patients with severe platelet function defects may need to receive
transfusions of normal platelets.
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| Paper, R. & Kelley, L.
(2002). A Guide to Living with von Willebrand Disease. |
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| Georgetown MA.:
Kelley Communications |
