Semin Thromb Hemost 2011; 37(5): 522-527
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1281038
© Thieme Medical Publishers

The Diagnosis and Management of von Willebrand Disease in Canada

Paula D. James1 , David P. Lillicrap2
  • 1Department of Medicine, Queen's University, at Kingston, Ontario, Canada
  • 2Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Richardson Labs, Queen's University, at Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 November 2011 (online)

ABSTRACT

In Canada, care for individuals with inherited bleeding disorders, including von Willebrand disease, is provided by 26 tertiary care multidisciplinary Inherited Bleeding Disorders clinics geographically spread across the country. The Association of Hemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada, the Canadian Association of Nurses in Hemophilia Care, the Canadian Physiotherapists in Hemophilia Care, the Canadian Social Workers in Hemophilia Care, and the Canadian Hemophilia Society all collaborate to provide optimal management for patients with inherited bleeding disorders. The standards of care for these patients were explicitly laid out in a 2007 document published by the Canadian Hemophilia Standards Group (with representation from all of the groups just mentioned) entitled Canadian Comprehensive Care Standards for Hemophilia and Other Inherited Bleeding Disorders. Separate Canadian guidelines for the management of patients with Hemophilia and von Willebrand disease also exist, focused on diagnosis, comprehensive care, assessment, and treatment.

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Paula JamesM.D. 

Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Room 2025, Etherington Hall, Queen's University

Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada

Email: jamesp@queensu.ca