von Willebrand Disease (vWD) is a bleeding disorder that slows down the blood clotting process, which can lead to excessive bleeding after injury, surgery or dental work along with nosebleeds, easy bruising and heavy menstrual periods. Children with vWD almost always inherit the disease, as it is the most common of all inherited bleeding disorders (one in every 100 to 1,000 children are born with vWD). Usually, the bleeding symptoms in vWD are milder than hemophilia.
Children born with von Willebrand Disease (vWD) either have low levels of a certain protein in their blood (called von Willebrand factor or vWF ) or make vWF protein is not working the way it should. This factor plays two important roles in blood clotting. The glue-like protein is found in cells that line the blood vessel walls and in platelets, as well as in blood, and helps platelets stick to blood vessels that have been cut or torn from injury. It also binds to one of the other clotting factors (factor VIII) to protect it from degradation. Blood clots protect the body by preventing blood loss and sealing off damaged blood vessels. People with vWD can experience prolonged bleeding because their blood clots slowly.
von Willebrand Disease (vWD) is usually inherited, meaning the disorder is passed from the child's parents through genes. Unlike hemophilia A and B that almost always affects only boys, vWD affects boys and girls equally. General symptoms of vWD includes frequent bruising, excessive bleeding after a pulled tooth and bleeding in the muscous membranes, such as nose and gums. There are three forms of vWD (type 1, type 2 and type 3) and the signs and symptoms vary depending on the type and severity of the disease.
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.
Last updated
September 27, 2011
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Hematology Clinic
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Phone: (415) 476-4901
Fax: (415) 476-3301
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