Von Willebrand disease is a lifelong bleeding disorder in which your blood doesn't clot well. Most people with the disease are born with it, though its warning signs may not show up for years. Some people may suspect they have a bleeding disorder when they have heavy bleeding after a dental procedure or, for women, during a menstrual period.
Most people with this condition inherited it from a parent. They have a faulty gene that causes problems with a protein important to the blood-clotting process.
Von Willebrand disease can't be cured. But with good treatment and self-care, most people with this disease can lead active lives.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Many people with von Willebrand disease don't know it because the signs are mild or absent. The most common sign of the condition is abnormal bleeding. The severity of the bleeding varies from one person to another.
If you have von Willebrand disease, you might experience:
Signs and symptoms of a heavy period that may indicate von Willebrand disease include:
Contact your doctor if you're experiencing long or hard-to-stop bleeding.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
The usual cause of von Willebrand disease is an inherited abnormal gene that controls von Willebrand factor, a protein that plays a key role in blood-clotting. When you have low levels of this protein or it doesn't work as it should, small blood cells called platelets cannot stick together properly, nor can they attach themselves normally to the blood vessel walls when an injury has occurred. The result is interference with the clotting process, and, sometimes, uncontrolled bleeding.
Von Willebrand factor carries an additional substance, called factor VIII, that helps stimulate clotting. Many people with von Willebrand disease also have low levels of factor VIII. This is also one of the substances involved in another inherited clotting disorder called hemophilia. But unlike hemophilia, which mainly affects males, von Willebrand disease affects males and females and is usually milder.
Rarely, von Willebrand disease can develop later in life in people who didn't inherit an abnormal gene from a parent. This is known as acquired von Willebrand disease, and it's likely caused by another medical condition.
Von Willebrand disease has several types:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Because many people with von Willebrand disease have mild signs and symptoms, the condition can be difficult to diagnose. If you have any indication of a bleeding disorder, your doctor may refer you to a blood disorders specialist (hematologist).
To evaluate you for von Willebrand disease, your doctor will likely ask you detailed questions about your medical history and check for bruises or other signs of recent bleeding.
Your doctor will also likely recommend the following blood tests:
The results of these tests can fluctuate in the same person over time due to factors such as stress, exercise, infection, pregnancy and medications. So you may need to repeat some tests.
If you have von Willebrand disease, your doctor may recommend that family members undergo the same or similar tests to determine if this condition runs in your family.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Complications of von Willebrand disease may include:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Because von Willebrand disease is usually an inherited disorder, consider having genetic counseling if you have a family history of this condition and you're planning to have children. If you carry the defective gene for von Willebrand disease, you can pass it on to your offspring, even if you don't have symptoms.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
These self-care tips can help you manage your condition:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
The main risk factor for von Willebrand disease is having a family history of it. A parent can pass the abnormal gene for the disease to his or her child.
Most cases are "autosomal dominant inherited" disorders, which means you only need an abnormal gene from one parent to be affected. If you have the gene for von Willebrand disease, you have a 50 percent chance of transmitting this gene to your offspring.
The most severe form of the condition (type 3) is "autosomal recessive," which means both of your parents have to pass an abnormal gene to you.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
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