What is Willebrand disease?

Von Willebrand disease is a lifelong bleeding disorder in which your blood doesn’t clot properly. People with the disease have low levels of von Willebrand factor, a protein that helps blood clot, or the protein doesn’t perform as it should.

What is Willebrand disease?

Von Willebrand disease is a lifelong bleeding disorder in which your blood doesn’t clot properly. People with the disease have low levels of von Willebrand factor, a protein that helps blood clot, or the protein doesn’t perform as it should.

What is the cause of von Willebrand disease?

VWD is caused by a defect or deficiency in von Willebrand Factor (VWF), a large protein made up of multiple subunits. VWF binds to clotting factor VIII in the circulation and protects it from being broken down. VWF also helps platelets bind to the inside of injured blood vessels.

What happens if you have von Willebrand disease?

People with von Willebrand disease sometimes experience heavier-than-normal bleeding from injury, surgery, and, in women, menstrual flow and childbirth. This bleeding can cause health problems including pain and anemia (low number of red blood cells). In rare cases, the bleeding can lead to death.

Who is affected by von Willebrand disease?

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) occurs with equal frequency among men and women, affecting up to 1% of the general population. However, women are more likely to experience symptoms of VWD because of the increased bleeding it causes during their menstrual periods, during pregnancy, and after childbirth.

What type of mutation is von Willebrand disease?

Mutations in the VWF gene cause von Willebrand disease. The VWF gene provides instructions for making a blood clotting protein called von Willebrand factor, which is essential for the formation of blood clots .

What type of inheritance is von Willebrand disease?

Autosomal dominant VWD is caused by changes in only one copy of the gene related to the disorder. In autosomal dominant inheritance, a child will inherit the bleeding disorder if he or she gets a VWD allele (the form of the gene that has a genetic change causing VWD) from one parent who has the disorder.

Can I donate blood with von Willebrand disease?

Blood and bleeding diseases or issues will often disqualify you from donating blood. If you suffer from hemophilia, Von Willebrand disease, hereditary hemochromatosis, or sickle cell disease, you are not eligible to donate blood.

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