Prophylaxis in von Willebrand disease

Ann Hematol. 2007 Oct;86(10):699-704. doi: 10.1007/s00277-007-0343-1. Epub 2007 Jul 19.

Abstract

Von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common hereditary bleeding disorder, is divided into three types depending on the quantitative (type 1 and 3) or qualitative (type 2) abnormality of von Willebrand factor (VWF). About 70-80% of VWD patients can be treated with the synthetic product desmopressin, while the others necessitate factor VIII/VWF concentrates. In addition to the treatment of bleeding episodes, therapeutic regimens include short- or long-term prophylaxis. While the literature data on short-term prophylaxis in VWD are consistent and clearly show the safety and efficacy of such a therapeutic approach, little evidence is available regarding long-term prophylaxis, and although the preliminary results are encouraging, they need to be validated by large prospective studies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / therapeutic use*
  • Factor VIII / metabolism
  • Factor VIII / therapeutic use*
  • Hemostatics / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • von Willebrand Diseases / drug therapy
  • von Willebrand Diseases / metabolism
  • von Willebrand Diseases / prevention & control*
  • von Willebrand Factor / metabolism
  • von Willebrand Factor / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Hemostatics
  • von Willebrand Factor
  • Factor VIII
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin