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A Pocket Guide to The Diagnosis, Evaluation and Management of von Willebrand Disease

Figure 1. Initial Evaluation For VWD or Other Bleeding Disorders

Figure 1. Initial Evaluation For VWD or Other Bleeding Disorders. A text version of this figure follows.


Questions to Patient
(e.g., an asymptomatic patient who will undergo surgery or other interventional procedure)

1) Have you or a blood relative ever needed medical attention for a bleeding problem, or been told you have a bleeding disorder or problem:

  • During /after surgery?
  • With dental procedures, extractions?
  • With trauma?
  • During childbirth or for heavy menses?
  • Ever had bruises with lumps?

2) Do you have or have you ever had:

  • Liver or kidney disease; a blood or bone marrow disorder; a high or low platelet count?

3) Do you take aspirin, NSAIDs (provide common names), clopidogrel (PlavixTM), warfarin, heparin?

No

Yes

  • No evaluation; usual care
  • Ask additional questions (see Box 1) and the 3 questions above (if not already asked) AND obtain history of treatment (e.g., blood transfusion). Examine for bleeding or underlying disease.

History From Patient

Personal history of VWD

Abnormal laboratory test

Positive family history of a bleeding disorder or bleeding

Patient is concerned about bleeding; patient who has unexplained anemia or history of previous DDAVP use

Negative

Positive

No further evaluation; usual care

Evaluate further: initial laboratory tests and possible referral (See Figure 2.)

Box 1. Additional Questions to Screen for a Bleeding Disorder

  1. Do you have a blood relative who has a bleeding disorder, such as von Willebrand disease or hemophilia?
  2. Have you ever had prolonged bleeding from trivial wounds, lasting more than 15 minutes or recurring spontaneously during the 7 days after the wound?
  3. Have you ever had heavy, prolonged, or recurrent bleeding after surgical procedures, such as tonsillectomy?
  4. Have you ever had bruising, with minimal or no apparent trauma, especially if you could feel a lump under the bruise?
  5. Have you ever had a spontaneous nose-bleed that required more than 10 minutes to stop or needed medical attention?
  6. Have you ever had heavy, prolonged, or recurrent bleeding after dental extractions that required medical attention?
  7. Have you ever had blood in your stool, unexplained by a specific anatomic lesion (such as an ulcer in the stomach, or a polyp in the colon), that required medical attention?
  8. Have you ever had anemia requiring treatment or received a blood transfusion?
  9. For women, have you ever had heavy menses, characterized by the presence of clots greater than an inch in diameter and/or changing a pad or tampon more than hourly, or resulting in anemia or low iron level?

Figure 2. Laboratory Assessment for VWD or Other Bleeding Disorders

Figure 2.  Laboratory Assessment for VWD or Other Bleeding Disorders. A text version of this figure follows.

Initial Evaluation (history and physical examination) (See Figure 1.)

Positive

Negative

Laboratory Evaluation

Initial hemostasis tests

  • CBC and platelet count
  • PTT
  • PT
  • Fibrinogen or TT (optional)

If bleeding history is strong, consider performing initial VWD assays

Other cause identified, e.g., ↓↓↓platelets*, isolated abnormal PT, low fibrinogen, abnormal TT

Possible referral for other appropriate evaluation

Isolated prolonged PTT that corrects on 1:1 mixing study, or no abnormalities

Initial VWD assays

  • VWF:Ag
  • VWF:RCo
  • FVIII

1 or more tests abnormal

No test abnormal

Referral for selected specialized VWD studies

Repeat initial VWD assays if necessary

Ratio of VWF: RCo to VWF: Ag

Multimer distribution

Collagen binding

RIPA or platelet binding

FVIII binding

Platelet VWF studies

DNA sequencing of VWF gene

Referral for other appropriate evaluation

No further evaluation

* Isolated decreased platelets may occur in VWD type 2B.

+ Correction in the PTT mixing study immediately and after 2-hour incubation removes a factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitor from consideration. Investigation of other intrinsic factors and lupus anticoagulant also may be indicated.

CBC = complete blood count; PT=prothrombin time; PTT = partial thromboplastin time; RIPA = Ristocetininduced platelet aggregation; TT = thrombin time; WVF:Ag = VWF antigen; VWF:RCo = VWF Ristocetin cofactor activity. Referral to a hemostasis specialist is appropriate for help in interpretation, repeat testing, and specialized tests.

See full guidelines for levels of evidence for each recommendation www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/vwd

Making the Diagnosis of vWD

Note: See full guidelines for levels of evidence for all recommendations (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines.vwd).

A. Clinical criteria—an increasing number of positive responses to questions in Fig.1, and abnormal physical findings increase the likelihood of a bleeding disorder.

AND

B. Laboratory criteria. (See Fig. 2.) The values below represent prototypical cases without additional VWF (or other disease) abnormalities. Exceptions occur, and repeat testing and clinical experience may be necessary for interpretation of laboratory results.

Laboratory Values for VWD

Condition

Description

VWF:RCo (IU/dL)

VWF:Ag (IU/dL)

FVIII

VWF:RCo/ VWF:Ag

Type 1

Partial quantitative VWF deficiency (75% of symptomatic VWD patients)

<30*

<30*

↓ or Normal

>0.5–0.7

Type 2A

↓ VWF-dependent platelet adhesion with selective deficiency of high-molecular-weight multimers

<30*

<30–200*†

↓ or Normal

<0.5–0.7

Type 2B

increased affinity for platelet GPIb

<30*

<30–200*†

↓ or Normal

Usually <0.5–0.7

Type 2M

VWF-dependent platelet adhesion without selective deficiency of high-molecular-weight ↓ multimers

<30*

<30–200*†

or Normal↓

<0.5–0.7

Type 2N

Markedly decreased binding affinity for FVIII

30–200

30–200

↓↓

>0.5–0.7

Type 3

Virtually complete deficiency of VWF (Severe, rare)

<3

<3

↓↓↓ (<10 IU/dL)

Not applicable

"Low VWF"**

 

30–50

30–50

Normal

>0.5–0.7

Normal

 

50–200

50–200

Normal

>0.5–0.7

↓ refers to a decrease in the test result compared to the laboratory reference range.

* <30 IU/dL is designated as the level for a definitive diagnosis of VWD; some patients with type 1 or type 2 VWD have levels of VWF:RCo and/or VWF:Ag of 30–50 IU/dL.

† The VWF:Ag in the majority of individuals with type 2A, 2B, or 2M VWD is <50 IU/dL.

** This does not preclude the diagnosis of VWD in patients with VWF:RCo of 30–50 IU/dL if there is supporting clinical and/or family evidence for VWD, nor does this preclude the use of agents to increase VWF levels in those who have VWF:RCo of 30–50 IU/dL and who may be at risk for bleeding.

Notes:

1. Until more laboratories clearly define a reference range, the VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag ratio of <0.5–0.7 is recommended to distinguish type 1 VWD vs. type 2 VWD variants (A, B, or M). Grade C, level IV

2. 30 IU/dL is recommended as the "cut-off" level for the definite diagnosis of VWD for the following reasons:

  • There is a high frequency of blood type O in the United States, and it is associated with "low" VWF levels;
  • Bleeding symptoms are reported by a significant proportion of individuals with no disease; and
  • No abnormality in the VWF gene has been identified in many individuals who have mildly to moderately low VWF:RCo levels. Grade C, level IV

Management of VWD

Treatment is aimed at cessation of bleeding or prophylaxis for surgical procedures. Strategies include:

  • increasing plasma concentration of VWF by releasing endogenous VWF stores through stimulation of endothelial cells with DDAVP.
  • replacing VWF by using human plasma-derived, viral-inactivated concentrates.
  • using agents that promote hemostasis and wound healing but do not substantially alter the plasma concentration of VWF.

These strategies are not mutually exclusive, and patients may receive any one or all three at the same time. The appropriate therapy depends on the type and severity of VWD, the severity of the hemostatic challenge, and the nature of the actual or potential bleeding.

Note: the following recommendations are graded according to level of evidence. See full guidelines for further explanation and evidence tables. (www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/vwd)

Testing Prior to Treatment

  1. Before treatment (except in urgent situations), persons suspected of having VWD should have a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis. (C, IV)
  2. Persons without a definite diagnosis of VWD but with VWF:RCo levels of 30–50 IU/dL and a bleeding history may benefit from treatment or prophylaxis of bleeding in certain clinical situations. (B, III)
  3. Persons with VWF:RCo >10 IU/dL and FVIII activity >20 IU/dL should undergo a trial of DDAVP while in a nonbleeding state. Persons with levels below these thresholds are less likely to respond usefully to DDAVP, but a DDAVP trial should still be considered. (B, IIa)

General Management of VWD Patients

  1. Treatment is aimed at cessation of bleeding or surgical prophylaxis. (C, IV)
  2. Continued bleeding, despite adequately replaced VWF:RCo and FVIII activity levels, requires evaluation for other causes of bleeding. (C, IV)
  3. Long-term prophylaxis is rarely required; it is currently under investigation. (C, IV)
  4. Patients > 2 years of age should be immunized against hepatitis A and B. (C, IV)
  5. Patients should have the opportunity to talk to a knowledgeable genetic counselor. (C, IV)
  6. Counsel patients to avoid aspirin, other NSAIDs, and other platelet-inhibiting drugs. (C, IV)
  7. Restriction of fluids to maintenance levels should be considered in persons receiving DDAVP (especially young children and in surgical settings) to avoid hyponatremia and seizures. (C, IV)

Treatment for Minor Bleeding and Prophylaxis for Surgery

  1. Epistaxis and oropharyngeal, soft tissue, or minor bleeding should be treated with intravenous or nasal DDAVP, if supported by results of a DDAVP trial. (B, IIa)
  2. If elevation of VWF is necessary and response to DDAVP is inadequate, VWF concentrate should be used, with dosing primarily based on VWF:RCo units and secondarily on FVIII units. (C, IV)
  3. For minor surgery, initial prophylactic treatment should achieve VWF:RCo and FVIII activity levels ≥30 IU/dL and preferably >50 IU/dL, and should be maintained for 1-5 days. (B, III)
  4. Management of minor bleeding (e.g., epistaxis, simple dental extraction, or menorrhagia) with DDAVP and proper fluid restriction can be performed without monitoring of electrolytes unless Stimate® or DDAVP is used more than three times within 72 hours. (C, IV)
  5. For persons with mild to moderate VWD, antifibrinolytics combined with DDAVP are generally effective for oral surgery. VWF concentrate should be available for persons who cannot receive DDAVP or who bleed excessively despite this combined therapy. (B, IIb)
  6. Topical agents, such as fibrin sealant or bovine thrombin, may be useful adjuncts for oral surgery. Careful attention to hemostasis of a tooth extraction socket and to suturing of sockets is also important. (C, IV)

Treatment of Major Bleeding and Prophylaxis for Surgery

  1. All treatment plans should be based on objective laboratory determination of response of VWF:RCo and FVIII activity levels to DDAVP or to VWF concentrate infusion. (B, IIb)
  2. Whenever possible, all major surgeries and bleeding events should be treated in hospitals with a 24-hour/day laboratory and with clinical monitoring by a team including a hematologist and a surgeon skilled in the management of bleeding disorders. (C, IV)
  3. For severe bleeding (e.g., intracranial, retroperitoneal) or prophylaxis of major surgery, initial target VWF:RCo and FVIII activity levels should be ≥100 IU/dL. Subsequent dosing should maintain VWF:RCo and FVIII levels above a trough of 50 IU/dL for at least 7–10 days. (B, III)
  4. To decrease risk of perioperative thrombosis, VWF:RCo levels should not exceed 200 IU/dL, and FVIII activity should not exceed 250 IU/dL. (C, IV)
  5. For major surgical procedures in selected patients with type 3 VWD or AVWS who are at risk for poor VWF recovery because of inhibitors, a preoperative trial infusion of VWF concentrate with pharmacokinetic laboratory monitoring should be considered. (C, IV)

Management of Menorrhagia and Hemorrhagic Ovarian Cysts

  1. Women with menorrhagia or abnormal vaginal bleeding should have a full gynecological evaluation before therapy. (C, IV)
  2. In the adolescent or adult woman who does not desire pregnancy, but may desire future childbearing, the first choice of therapy for either menorrhagia or to prevent hemorrhagic ovarian cysts should be combined oral contraceptives. (B, III and C, IV, respectively)
  3. If a woman would otherwise be a suitable candidate for an intrauterine device, the second choice of therapy for menorrhagia should be the levonorgestrel intrauterine system. (B, IIb)
  4. For the woman who desires pregnancy, DDAVP, antifibrinolytics, or VWF concentrate may be tried to control menorrhagia. (C, IV)
  5. Dilation and curettage is not usually effective to manage excessive uterine bleeding in women who have VWD. (C, IV)

Management of Pregnancy and Childbirth

  1. Women planning for pregnancy should have, before conception, an evaluation by a hematologist and a high-risk obstetrician who are skilled in the management of VWD. (C, IV)
  2. For women who have type 1, type 2, or type 3 VWD, with FVIII or VWF:RCo levels <50 IU/dL, or a history of severe bleeding:
    1. refer to a center that has high-risk obstetrics capabilities and with expertise in hemostasis for prenatal care, delivery, termination of pregnancy, or management of miscarriage. (C, IV)
    2. administer prophylaxis with DDAVP or VWF concentrate before invasive procedures. (C, IV)
    3. achieve VWF:RCo and FVIII levels of at least 50 IU/dL before delivery and maintain those levels for at least 3–5 days afterward. (C, IV)
  3. If VWF:RCo and FVIII levels can be monitored and maintained above 50 IU/dL during labor and delivery, and no other coagulation defects are present, then regional anesthesia may be considered. (C, IV)
  4. Because coagulation factors return to prepregnancy levels within 14–21 days after delivery, health care providers should be in close contact with women during the postpartum period. (C, IV)

Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome (AVWS)

  1. AVWS patients who require surgery should be considered for a pharmacokinetic trial of therapy with DDAVP and/or VWF concentrate, with monitoring of VWF:RCo and FVIII levels, to evaluate for possible accelerated clearance of VWF. (C, IV)
  2. For AVWS patients who bleed excessively despite therapy with DDAVP and VWF concentrate, treatment with high-dose IGIV should be considered, especially in IgG isotype MGUS. (B, IIa)
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