An update on type 2B von Willebrand disease

Expert Rev Hematol. 2014 Apr;7(2):217-31. doi: 10.1586/17474086.2014.868771. Epub 2014 Feb 12.

Abstract

Type 2B von Willebrand disease (VWD) accounts for fewer than 5% of all VWD patients. In this disease, mutations in the A1 domain result in increased von Willebrand factor (VWF) binding to platelet GPIbα receptors, causing increased platelet clearance and preferential loss of high molecular weight VWF multimers. Diagnosis is complicated because of significant clinical variations even among patients with identical mutations. Platelet transfusion often provides suboptimal results since transfused platelets may be aggregated by the patients' abnormal VWF. Desmopressin may cause a transient decrease in platelet count that could lead to an increased risk of bleeding. Replacement therapy with factor VIII/VWF concentrates is the most effective approach to prevention and treatment of bleeding in type 2B VWD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blood Platelets / metabolism
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Drug Combinations
  • Factor VIII / therapeutic use
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex / metabolism
  • von Willebrand Disease, Type 2 / diagnosis*
  • von Willebrand Disease, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • von Willebrand Disease, Type 2 / genetics
  • von Willebrand Factor / genetics
  • von Willebrand Factor / metabolism
  • von Willebrand Factor / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex
  • adhesion receptor
  • factor VIII, von Willebrand factor drug combination
  • von Willebrand Factor
  • Factor VIII
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin