Introduction: Von Willebrand Disease is a common inherited haemorrhagic disorder due to a deficiency of Von Willebrand Factor (VWF). In case of surgical procedures in patients who are not responsive or have contraindications to desmopressin, replacement therapy with VWF concentrates is indicated. Until recently, only plasma-derived VWF concentrates were available. A new recombinant VWF (rVWF) concentrate that contains no Factor VIII (FVIII) but a high amount of high molecular weight VWF multimers has been available in France since 2018.
Aim: Describe real-world experience of using rVWF in surgical procedures.
Methods: Sixty-three surgeries for 55 patients were retrospectively analysed in 7 French haemostasis centres.
Results: During minor surgeries, the median (range) number of infusions was 1 (1-8) with a preoperative loading dose of 35 (19-56) rVWF IU/kg and a total median dose of 37.5 IU (12-288). During major surgeries, the median (range) number of infusions was only 3 (1-14) with a median preoperative loading dose of 36 IU (12-51) rVWF IU/kg, and a total median dose of 108 IU (22-340) rVWF IU/kg. The overall clinical efficacy was qualified as excellent/good in 61 of the procedures (97%), moderate in 1 (1.5%) and poor in 1 (1.5%). There was no accumulation of VWF or FVIII during postoperative monitoring. No thromboembolic events, anti-VWF antibodies or adverse events were reported.
Conclusion: This French 'real-world' experience shows that a few infusions and low doses of rVWF provided effective prevention of bleeding in major and minor surgeries in inherited VWD, with no clinically significant safety concerns.
Keywords: inherited von Willebrand disease; recombinant VWF; surgical procedure.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.