Von Willebrand disease is an inherited bleeding disorder, whereby one of the proteins in the blood called von Willebrand factor is either deficient or does not work properly. The majority of people with von Willebrand disease have very mild bleeding problems but some rarer types may have more severe bleeding.
There are three types of von Willebrand disease:
- Type I occurs when there is a lower level of von Willebrand factor than normal
- Type II occurs when the von Willebrand factor does not work properly
- Type III is the most severe form where there is little or no von Willebrand activity at all. Bleeding is most severe in Type III.
The treatment of von Willebrand disease involves the use of Desmopressin (DDAVP (30 KB)) or factor VIII concentrates which contain von Willebrand factor.