What Causes von Willebrand Disease?

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is almost always inherited. Your parents pass the gene for the disease on to you. You can inherit type 1 or type 2 VWD when only one of your parents passes the gene on to you. You usually inherit type 3 VWD only if both of your parents pass the gene on to you. Your symptoms may be different from your parents’ symptoms.

Some people carry the genes for the disease but don’t have symptoms. They still can pass the disease on to their children.

Some people develop a form of VWD later in life as a result of other medical conditions. This form of VWD is called acquired von Willebrand syndrome.