Did you know that Von Willebrand (VWD) disease is the most common heredity bleeding disorder? The disease affects 1 in 90 in the United States, which adds up to approximately 1 percent or 3 million people who are currently suffering from it. There is also an estimated 1 million undiagnosed females with the disease.
What Is It?
VWD is a bleeding disorder that is characterized by easy bruising, nosebleeds and abnormally heavy and irregular menstrual flows. These symptoms are caused by a lack of von Willebrand factor, or as it is more commonly known, factor VIII (FVIII). FVIII functions in the body to help blood platelets clump together so that they stick to the walls of bloods vessels in a process known as clotting. While there are several types of the disorder, the symptoms for all tend to be similar.
How Is It Diagnosed?
There are a few ways to go about testing for VWD, including:
Bleeding time test – A doctor will make a small incision and record the time it takes for bleeding to stop at the site of the rupture.
Platelet aggregation test – Once a blood sample is drawn, certain chemicals can be added to it to observe its clotting behaviors, which are directly related to platelet functionality.
Platelet count – A blood sample is taken and analyzed for platelet count to determine if this number is low, which is an indicator of VWD.
What Are The Treatment Options?
Once a diagnosis of VWD is confirmed, there are several methods of managing the disorder. Medications aimed at increasing the release of FVIII into the bloodstream, preventing the breakdown of blood clots and controlling menstrual cycles for females are often prescribed. An example of one such medication is Desmopressin (DDAVP), which is a synthetic hormone that comes in the form of a nasal spray or an injection, and triggers the production of FVIII for individuals suffering from type 1 of the disease.
Because VWD is a hereditary disorder, one of the best places to start looking to determine whether or not you are at risk is to examine your family medical history.
Sources:
Medline Plus – Von Willebrand Disease: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000544.htm
National Institutes of Health – What is Von Willebrand Disease?: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/vWD/vWD_WhatIs.html
WebMD – Von Willebrand Disease: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/959825-overview
WrongDiagnosis.com – Statistics About Von Willebrand Disease: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/v/von_willebrand_disease/stats.htm
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