RSS-Feed abonnieren
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1281028
von Willebrand Disease: Local Diagnosis and Management of a Globally Distributed Bleeding Disorder
Publikationsverlauf
Publikationsdatum:
18. November 2011 (online)

ABSTRACT
von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder and arises from deficiencies and/or defects in the plasma protein von Willebrand factor (VWF). The current report overviews the diagnosis and management of VWD as reflected by differential processes applied within centers around the world. The prevalence of VWD, as well as the frequency of different VWD types, is also reported. VWD prevalence data varies according to methodology used, with epidemiological/population screening estimates approximating 1% of the population (or 10,000 cases per million population), several orders of magnitude higher than estimates from bleeding disorders registry data or regional/center analysis (which instead range from <1 to ~450 cases per million population). Frequency of different VWD types also varies according to source and analysis, with type 1 VWD identified as the clear dominant type in most developed countries (ranging from 40% to 90% of all VWD cases), whereas type 3 VWD predominates in developing countries such as India and Iran. The frequency of qualitative (i.e., type 2) VWD also varies considerably among different reports, ranging from 3% to >50% of all VWD cases, as does the frequency of specific qualitative VWD types (i.e., 2A, 2B, 2M, and 2N). Although type 2A VWD is considered the most common form of type 2 VWD, in some reports workers consider type 2M VWD to be as, or more, common. Although not considered to be a “true” VWD, given its platelet origin, platelet-type VWD is only rarely identified. Finally, management of VWD also differs according to geographic region. Most developed countries use standard therapy, employing desmopressin (DDAVP) wherever possible, factor concentrate in other situations, and antifibrinolytic therapy as required. In contrast, the relative high cost and unavailability of factor concentrates in developing countries, and sometimes the unavailability of DDAVP, requires different management strategies to be applied.
KEYWORDS
von Willebrand disease - VWD - diagnosis - management - desmopressin - DDAVP - genetic testing - factor concentrates
REFERENCES
- 1
Casonato A, Daidone V, Padrini R.
Assessment of von Willebrand factor propeptide improves the diagnosis of von Willebrand
disease.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
456-463
MissingFormLabel
- 2
Othman M.
Platelet-type von Willebrand disease: a rare, often misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed
bleeding disorder.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
464-469
MissingFormLabel
- 3
Hamilton A, Ozelo M, Leggo J et al..
Frequency of platelet type versus type 2B von Willebrand disease: an international
registry-based study.
Thromb Haemost.
2011;
105
(3)
501-508
MissingFormLabel
- 4
Hampshire D J, Goodeve A C.
The International Society on Thrombosis and Haematosis von Willebrand disease database:
an update.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
470-479
MissingFormLabel
- 5
de Wee E M, Leebeek F WG, Eikenboom JCJ.
Diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease in the Netherlands.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
480-487
MissingFormLabel
- 6
Keeney S, Collins P, Cumming A, Goodeve A, Pasi J.
Diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease in the United Kingdom.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
488-494
MissingFormLabel
- 7
Lassila R, Holme P A, Landorph A, Petrini P, Önundarson P T, Hillarp A.
Nordic Haemophilia Council's practical guidelines on diagnosis and management of von
Willebrand disease.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
495-502
MissingFormLabel
- 8
Batlle J, Perez-Rodriguez A, Prego JCP, Fraga E L, Rodriguez-Trillo A, Lopez-Fernandez M F. on behalf of participant investigators and centres .
Diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease in Spain.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
503-510
MissingFormLabel
- 9
Federici A B, Bucciarelli P, Castaman G, Baronciani L, Canciani M T, Mazzucconi M G, Morfini M, Rocino A, Schiavoni M, Oliovecchio E, Iorio A, Mannucci P M.
Management of inherited von Willebrand disease in Italy: results from the retrospective
study on 1,234 patients.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
511-521
MissingFormLabel
- 10
James P D, Lillicrap D P.
The diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease in Canada.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
522-527
MissingFormLabel
- 11
Flood V H, Gill J C, Bellissimo D B, Haberichter S L, Friedman K D, Montgomery R R.
von Willebrand disease in the United States: a perspective from Wisconsin.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
528-534
MissingFormLabel
- 12
Rodgers S E, Lloyd J V, Mangos H M, Duncan E M, McRae S J.
Diagnosis and management of adult patients with von Willebrand disorder in South Australia.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
535-541
MissingFormLabel
- 13
Favaloro E J, Bonar R, Favaloro J, Koutts J.
Diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease in Australia.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
542-554
MissingFormLabel
- 14
Rajagopal R, Smith M P.
Diagnosis of von Willebrand disease in South Island, New Zealand.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
555-559
MissingFormLabel
- 15
Bonduel M, Frontroth J P, Hepner M, Sciuccati G, Feliu-Torres A, Pieroni G.
von Willebrand disease in children: diagnosis and management of a pediatric cohort
in one single center in Argentina.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
560-567
MissingFormLabel
- 16
Woods A I, Luceros A S, Meschengieser S S, Kempfer A C, Blanco A N, Lazzari M A.
Diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease in a single institution of Argentina.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
568-575
MissingFormLabel
- 17
Meiring M, Coetzee M, Kelderman M, Badenhorst P.
Laboratory diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease in South Africa.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
576-580
MissingFormLabel
- 18
Akin M, Kavakli K.
Laboratory diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease in Turkey: Izmir experience.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
581-586
MissingFormLabel
- 19
Nair S C, Viswabandya A, Srivastava A.
Diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease (VWD): a developing country perspective.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
581-586
MissingFormLabel
- 20
Ghosh K, Shetty S.
Epidemiology, diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease in India.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
595-601
MissingFormLabel
- 21
Cohan N, Karimi M.
Diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease in Iran.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
602-606
MissingFormLabel
- 22
Xu J, Yu Z, Zhang L, Ruan C, Yang R.
Diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease in China.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2011;
37
(5)
607-614
MissingFormLabel
- 23
Sadler J E, Budde U, Eikenboom J C Working Party on von Willebrand Disease Classification et al.
Update on the pathophysiology and classification of von Willebrand disease: a report
of the Subcommittee on von Willebrand Factor.
J Thromb Haemost.
2006;
4
(10)
2103-2114
MissingFormLabel
- 24
Favaloro E J.
Identification and functional characterisation of von Willebrand disease.
US Hematology.
2009;
2
(1)
16-23
MissingFormLabel
- 25
Favaloro E J.
Toward a new paradigm for the identification and functional characterization of von
Willebrand disease.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2009;
35
(1)
60-75
MissingFormLabel
- 26
Favaloro E J.
An update on the von Willebrand factor collagen binding assay: 21 years of age and
beyond adolescence but not yet a mature adult.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2007;
33
(8)
727-744
MissingFormLabel
- 27
Favaloro E J, Krigstein M, Koutts J, Brighton T, Lindeman R.
Genetic testing for the diagnosis of von Willebrand disease: benefits and limitations.
J Coag Disorders.
2010;
2
37-47
MissingFormLabel
- 28
Favaloro E J.
Genetic testing for von Willebrand disease: the case against.
J Thromb Haemost.
2010;
8
(1)
6-12
MissingFormLabel
- 29
Rodeghiero F, Tosetto A, Abshire T ISTH/SSC joint VWF and Perinatal/Pediatric Hemostasis Subcommittees Working Group et al.
ISTH/SSC bleeding assessment tool: a standardized questionnaire and a proposal for
a new bleeding score for inherited bleeding disorders.
J Thromb Haemost.
2010;
8
(9)
2063-2065
MissingFormLabel
- 30
Favaloro E J, Lippi G, Franchini M.
Contemporary platelet function testing.
Clin Chem Lab Med.
2010;
48
(5)
579-598
MissingFormLabel
- 31
Othman M, Favaloro E J.
Genetics of type 2B von Willebrand disease: “true 2B,” “tricky 2B,” or “not 2B.” What
are the modifiers of the phenotype?.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2008;
34
(6)
520-531
MissingFormLabel
- 32
Federici A B, Mannucci P M, Castaman G et al..
Clinical and molecular predictors of thrombocytopenia and risk of bleeding in patients
with von Willebrand disease type 2B: a cohort study of 67 patients.
Blood.
2009;
113
(3)
526-534
MissingFormLabel
- 33
Frontroth J P, Hepner M, Sciuccati G, Feliú Torres A, Pieroni G, Bonduel M.
Prospective study of low-dose ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation to identify
type 2B von Willebrand disease (VWD) and platelet-type VWD in children.
Thromb Haemost.
2010;
104
(6)
1158-1165
MissingFormLabel
- 34
Ribba A S, Loisel I, Lavergne J M et al..
Ser968Thr mutation within the A3 domain of von Willebrand factor (VWF) in two related
patients leads to a defective binding of VWF to collagen.
Thromb Haemost.
2001;
86
(3)
848-854
MissingFormLabel
- 35
Riddell A F, Gomez K, Millar C M et al..
Characterization of W1745C and S1783A: 2 novel mutations causing defective collagen
binding in the A3 domain of von Willebrand factor.
Blood.
2009;
114
(16)
3489-3496
MissingFormLabel
- 36
Flood V H, Lederman C A, Wren J S et al..
Absent collagen binding in a VWF A3 domain mutant: utility of the VWF:CB in diagnosis
of VWD.
J Thromb Haemost.
2010;
8
(6)
1431-1433
MissingFormLabel
- 37
Melo-Nava B M, Benítez H, Palacios J J et al..
Molecular study of VWF gene from Mexican mestizo patients with von Willebrand disease,
and the finding of three new mutations.
Blood Cells Mol Dis.
2007;
39
(3)
361-365
MissingFormLabel
- 38
Favaloro E J, Mohammed S, Koutts J.
Identification and prevalence of von Willebrand disease type 2N (Normandy) in Australia.
Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis.
2009;
20
(8)
706-714
MissingFormLabel
- 39
Favaloro E J.
Phenotypic identification of platelet-type von Willebrand disease and its discrimination
from type 2B von Willebrand disease: a question of 2B or not 2B? A story of nonidentical
twins? Or two sides of a multidenominational or multifaceted primary-hemostasis coin?.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2008;
34
(1)
113-127
MissingFormLabel
- 40
Sadler J E.
Low von Willebrand factor: sometimes a risk factor and sometimes a disease.
Hematology (Am Soc Hematol Educ Program).
2009;
106-112
MissingFormLabel
- 41
Favaloro E J, Thom J, Baker R. Australasian Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ASTH) Emerging Technologies Group .
Assessment of current diagnostic practice and efficacy in testing for von Willebrand's
disorder: results from the second Australasian multi-laboratory survey.
Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis.
2000;
11
(8)
729-737
MissingFormLabel
- 42
Favaloro E J, Bonar R, Marsden K. on behalf of the RCPA QAP Haemostasis Committee .
Lower limit of assay sensitivity: an under-recognised and significant problem in von
Willebrand disease identification and classification.
Clin Lab Sci.
2008;
21
(3)
178-183
MissingFormLabel
- 43
Favaloro E J, Lippi G, Adcock D M.
Preanalytical and postanalytical variables: the leading causes of diagnostic error
in hemostasis?.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2008;
34
(7)
612-634
MissingFormLabel
- 44
Favaloro E J, Bonar R, Meiring M, Street A, Marsden K. RCPA QAP in Haematology .
2B or not 2B? Disparate discrimination of functional VWF discordance using different
assay panels or methodologies may lead to success or failure in the early identification
of type 2B VWD.
Thromb Haemost.
2007;
98
(2)
346-358
MissingFormLabel
- 45
Favaloro E J, Bonar R, Kershaw G on behalf of the RCPA QAP in Haematology et al.
Reducing errors in identification of von Willebrand disease: the experience of the
Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia quality assurance program.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2006;
32
(5)
505-513
MissingFormLabel
- 46
Favaloro E J.
Laboratory identification of von Willebrand disease: technical and scientific perspectives.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2006;
32
(5)
456-471
MissingFormLabel
- 47
Favaloro E J.
Evaluation of commercial von Willebrand factor collagen binding assays to assist the
discrimination of types 1 and 2 von Willebrand disease.
Thromb Haemost.
2010;
104
(5)
1009-1021
MissingFormLabel
- 48
Meijer P, Haverkate F.
An external quality assessment program for von Willebrand factor laboratory analysis:
an overview from the European concerted action on thrombosis and disabilities foundation.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2006;
32
(5)
485-491
MissingFormLabel
- 49
Favaloro E J.
Detailed von Willebrand factor multimer analysis in patients with von Willebrand disease
in the European study, molecular and clinical markers for the diagnosis and management
of type 1 von Willebrand disease (MCMDM-1VWD): a rebuttal.
J Thromb Haemost.
2008;
6
(11)
1999-2001
author reply 2002-2003
MissingFormLabel
- 50
Rodeghiero F, Castaman G, Tosetto A.
Optimizing treatment of von Willebrand disease by using phenotypic and molecular data.
Hematology (Am Soc Hematol Educ Program).
2009;
113-123
MissingFormLabel
- 51
Favaloro E J, Thom J, Patterson D et al..
Desmopressin therapy to assist the functional identification and characterisation
of von Willebrand disease: differential utility from combining two (VWF:CB and VWF:RCo)
von Willebrand factor activity assays?.
Thromb Res.
2009;
123
(6)
862-868
MissingFormLabel
- 52
Favaloro E J, Thom J, Patterson D et al..
Potential supplementary utility of combined PFA-100 and functional von Willebrand
factor testing for the laboratory assessment of desmopressin and factor concentrate
therapy in von Willebrand disease.
Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis.
2009;
20
(6)
475-483
MissingFormLabel
- 53
Favaloro E J.
Rethinking the diagnosis of von Willebrand disease.
Thromb Res.
2011;
127
(Suppl 2)
S17-S21
MissingFormLabel
- 54
Keeney S, Bowen D, Cumming A, Enayat S, Goodeve A, Hill M. UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors' Organisation (UKHCDO) .
The molecular analysis of von Willebrand disease: a guideline from the UK Haemophilia
Centre Doctors' Organisation Haemophilia Genetics Laboratory Network.
Haemophilia.
2008;
14
(5)
1099-1111
MissingFormLabel
- 55
Stonebraker J S, Bolton-Maggs P H, Soucie J M, Walker I, Brooker M.
A study of variations in the reported haemophilia A prevalence around the world.
Haemophilia.
2010;
16
(1)
20-32
MissingFormLabel
- 56
Rodeghiero F, Castaman G, Dini E.
Epidemiological investigation of the prevalence of von Willebrand's disease.
Blood.
1987;
69
(2)
454-459
MissingFormLabel
- 57
Castaman G, Eikenboom J C, Bertina R M, Rodeghiero F.
Inconsistency of association between type 1 von Willebrand disease phenotype and genotype
in families identified in an epidemiological investigation.
Thromb Haemost.
1999;
82
(3)
1065-1070
MissingFormLabel
- 58
Biron C, Mahieu B, Rochette A et al..
Preoperative screening for von Willebrand disease type 1: low yield and limited ability
to predict bleeding.
J Lab Clin Med.
1999;
134
(6)
605-609
MissingFormLabel
- 59
Werner E J, Broxson E H, Tucker E L, Giroux D S, Shults J, Abshire T C.
Prevalence of von Willebrand disease in children: a multiethnic study.
J Pediatr.
1993;
123
(6)
893-898
MissingFormLabel
- 60 Gürsel T, Kavaklı K, Aktuğlu G et al.. Hemofili ve von Willebrand Hastalığında Tanı ve Tedavi, Türk Hematoloji Derneği-Hemofili
Alt Komitesi (Turkish Guideline). İstanbul, Turkey: Rehberi; 1999: 2-5
MissingFormLabel
- 61
Yilmaz D, Karapınar B, Yeniay B S, Balkan C, Bilenoğlu B, Kavaklı K.
İzmir'de von Willebrand Hastalığı sıklığını belirtmeye yönelik epidemiyolojik çalışma
[in Turkish].
Ege Pediatri Bülteni.
2005;
12
(3)
151-159
MissingFormLabel
- 62
Cabrera M E, Artigas C G, Páez E et al..
von Willebrand's disease in the IX Region of Chile.
Rev Med Chil.
1989;
117
(4)
423-430
MissingFormLabel
- 63
Diez-Ewald M, Vizcaíno G, Arteaga-Vizcaíno M, Fernández N, Weir-Medina J, Gómez O.
Epidemiology of von Willebrand's disease in the state of Zulia, Venezuela.
Invest Clin.
1991;
32
(4)
187-199
MissingFormLabel
- 64
Zhang L, Li H, Zhao H, Zhang X, Ji L, Yang R.
Retrospective analysis of 1312 patients with haemophilia and related disorders in
a single Chinese institute.
Haemophilia.
2003;
9
(6)
696-702
MissingFormLabel
- 65
Sadler J E, Mannucci P M, Berntorp E et al..
Impact, diagnosis and treatment of von Willebrand disease.
Thromb Haemost.
2000;
84
(2)
160-174
MissingFormLabel
- 66
Iorio A, Oliovecchio E, Morfini M, Mannucci P M. Association of Italian Hemophilia Centres Directors .
Italian Registry of Haemophilia and Allied Disorders. Objectives, methodology and
data analysis.
Haemophilia.
2008;
14
(3)
444-453
MissingFormLabel
- 67 Canadian Hemophilia Registry .Available at: http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/chr/data.html Accessed December 27, 2010
MissingFormLabel
- 68 World Federation for Haemophilia. 2008 Report. Available at: http://www.wfh.org/2/docs/Publications/.../2008_Global_Survey_Report.pdf Accessed February 18, 2011
MissingFormLabel
- 69
Woods A I, Meschengieser S S, Blanco A N et al..
Clinical features and laboratory patterns in a cohort of consecutive Argentinian patients
with von Willebrand's disease.
Haematologica.
2001;
86
(4)
420-427
MissingFormLabel
- 70
Zhang J Y, Wang Y C, Yang L et al..
Retrospective analysis of 100 patients with von Willebrand disease.
Clin Focus.
2003;
18
581-582
MissingFormLabel
- 71
Kumar S, Kishore R, Gupta V, Jain M, Shukla J.
Prevalence and spectrum of von Willebrand disease in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Indian J Pathol Microbiol.
2010;
53
(3)
486-489
MissingFormLabel
- 72
Trasi S, Shetty S, Ghosh K, Mohanty D.
Prevalence and spectrum of von Willebrand disease from western India.
Indian J Med Res.
2005;
121
(5)
653-658
MissingFormLabel
- 73
Rezende S M, Pinheiro K, Caram C, Genovez G, Barca D.
Registry of inherited coagulopathies in Brazil: first report.
Haemophilia.
2009;
15
(1)
142-149
MissingFormLabel
- 74
Tagliaferri A, Rivolta G F, Biasoli C et al..
A web-based registry of inherited bleeding disorders in the region of Emilia-Romagna:
results at three and a half years.
Haemophilia.
2008;
14
(2)
343-354
MissingFormLabel
- 75
Michiels J J, van de Velde A, van Vliet H H, van der Planken M, Schroyens W, Berneman Z.
Response of von Willebrand factor parameters to desmopressin in patients with type
1 and type 2 congenital von Willebrand disease: diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2002;
28
(2)
111-132
MissingFormLabel
- 76
Michiels J J, van Vliet H H, Berneman Z et al..
Intravenous DDAVP and factor VIII-von Willebrand factor concentrate for the treatment
and prophylaxis of bleedings in patients With von Willebrand disease type 1, 2 and
3.
Clin Appl Thromb Hemost.
2007;
13
(1)
14-34
MissingFormLabel
- 77
Federici A B, Mazurier C, Berntorp E et al..
Biologic response to desmopressin in patients with severe type 1 and type 2 von Willebrand
disease: results of a multicenter European study.
Blood.
2004;
103
(6)
2032-2038
MissingFormLabel
- 78
Lee C A, Hubbard A, Sabin C A on behalf of the ISTH-SSC sub-committee on VWF et al.
Laboratory diagnosis of von Willebrand disease: results from a prospective and blind
study in 32 laboratories worldwide using lyophilized plasmas.
J Thromb Haemost.
2010;
9
220-222
MissingFormLabel
Emmanuel J FavaloroPh.D. F.F.Sc. (RCPA)
Department of Haematology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR)
Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
eMail: emmanuel.favaloro@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au