Von Willebrand's Disease - Medtick
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Von Willebrand’s Disease

What is it?

An inherited bleeding and bruising condition caused by missing or defective Von Willebrand factor (vWF), a clotting protein.

  • This protein along with other factors help ones blood to clot.

The main types are:

  • type 1 – the mildest and most common type. People with type 1 VWD have a reduced level of von Willebrand factor in their blood. Bleeding is mostly only a problem if they have surgery, injure themselves, or have a tooth removed.
  • type 2 – in people with this type of VWD, von Willebrand factor doesn’t work properly. Bleeding tends to be more frequent and heavier than in type 1.
  • type 3 – the most severe and rarest type. People with type 3 VWD have very low levels of von Willebrand factor, or none at all. Bleeding from the mouth, nose and gut is common, and joint and muscle bleeds can occur after an injury

NHS Choices 

Cause

  • Family History (though not always)
  • Autoimmune disease (where the immune system attacks the vWF in the blood vessels
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Tumor
  • Type 1 Von Willebrand Disease can also be affected by other factors- people with blood group O are more often affected than people with blood group A or B.

Symptoms

  • Easy or unexplained bruising (purpura)?
  • Red or purple spots on the skin (petechiae)?
  • Prolonged bleeding from small cuts?
  • Nose bleeds?
  • Bleeding gums when brushing?
  • Joint stiffness and pain?
  • Pain, numbness, burning and tingling (pins and needles) sensation in one’s hands and fingers (thumb and/or index finger and/or middle finger and/or ring finger and/or small finger)?
  • Pain and/or numbness and/or tingling sensation in one or both legs and/or foot area and/or leg aching which comes and goes?
  • Inflamed (hot, red and swollen) joints, tenderness and warmth to the touch?
  • Rectal bleeding?

Female:

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

  • Stroke
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Bleeding from any orifice
  • Beware of bleeding in the skull symptoms:
    • Severe headache
    • Stiff neck
    • Vomiting
    • Change in mental state, such as confusion
    • Speaking difficulties, such as slurred speech
    • Changes in vision, such as double vision
    • loss of coordination and balance
    • Paralysis of some or all of the facial muscles

NHS Choices

Pregnancy

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Detailed Information

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