Prophylactic management of patients with von Willebrand disease

• Published in: Therapeutic Advances in Hematology Vol. 12; p. 20406207211064064
• Main Authors: Franchini, Massimo, Seidizadeh, Omid, Mannucci, Pier Mannuccio
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-12-2021; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Blood diseases; Disease management; Disease prevention; Genetic disorders; Hemorrhage; Review; von Willebrand disease; bleeding; long term; prophylaxis; short term
• ISSN: 2040-6207; 2040-6215
• DOI: 10.1177/20406207211064064

Von Willebrand disease, the most common inherited bleeding disorder that affects both males and females, is due to quantitative or qualitative defects of the multimeric glycoprotein von Willebrand factor, which cause mucous membrane bleeding but also soft tissue bleeding owing to the secondary deficiency of factor VIII. The aim of treatment is to correct this dual defect of hemostasis. In addition to the episodic management of bleeding episodes, therapy includes their short- or long-term prevention. Short-term prophylaxis is mainly warranted in order to provide effective hemostatic coverage to patients undergoing surgery or invasive procedures and to affected women at the time of delivery or during menstruations associated with excessive bleeding. The aim of long-term prophylaxis is to prevent bleeding in particular categories of patients at increased risk of frequent and spontaneous bleeding in the joints, nose, and gastrointestinal tract.