Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1281036
Diagnosis and Management of von Willebrand Disease in Spain
Publication History
Publication Date:
18 November 2011 (online)

ABSTRACT
The correct diagnosis and classification of von Willebrand disease (VWD) is important for therapy and genetic counseling but is made difficult due to the variability of its clinical expression and limitations of laboratory methods. A national registry of VWD patients has been initiated in Spain. The results of a concise survey on the diagnosis of VWD show the frequency of VWD is fivefold greater in Spain than that expected from epidemiological studies in other European countries; this may result from overdiagnosis and/or a higher prevalence of VWD. These results clearly reinforce the need for the Spanish VWD registry. A consensus guideline for optimal treatment of VWD is being elaborated in Spain. Desmopressin (DDAVP) is the choice of treatment in responsive VWD patients. von Willebrand factor concentrates (VWF/factor VIII) are used in individuals nonresponsive to DDAVP, when DDAVP is contraindicated, or in VWD types 2B and 3.
KEYWORDS
von Willebrand disease - VWD - von Willebrand factor - VWF - survey - diagnosis - therapy
REFERENCES
- 1
Batlle J, Villar A, Liras A et al..
Consensus opinion for the selection and use of therapeutic products for the treatment
of haemophilia in Spain.
Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis.
2008;
19
(5)
333-340
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 2
Aznar J A, Lucia F, Abad-Franch L et al..
Haemophilia in Spain.
Haemophilia.
2009;
15
(3)
665-675
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 3
Aznar J A, Abad-Franch L, Cortina V, Marco P. Inherited Bleeding Disorders Group from the Spanish Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis .
The national registry of haemophilia A and B in Spain: results from a census of patients.
Haemophilia.
2009;
15
1327-1353
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 4 Rodeghiero F, Castaman G.
von Willebrand disease: epidemiology. In: Lee C A, Berntorp E E, Hoots W K, eds. Textbook of Hemophilia. Oxford, United Kingdom: Blackwell; 2005: 265-272
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 5
Federici A B, Canciani M T.
Clinical and laboratory versus molecular markers for a correct classification of von Willebrand disease.
Haematologica.
2009;
94
610-615
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 6
Nichols W L, Hultin M B, James A H et al..
von Willebrand disease (VWD): evidence-based diagnosis and management guidelines, the
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Expert Panel report (USA).
Haemophilia.
2008;
14
(2)
171-232
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 7
Favaloro E J.
Toward a new paradigm for the identification and functional characterization of von Willebrand disease.
Semin Thromb Hemost.
2009;
35
(1)
60-75
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 8
Sadler J E, Budde U, Eikenboom J C et al..
Working Party on von Willebrand Disease Classification. Update on the pathophysiology and classification
of von Willebrand disease: a report of the Subcommittee on von Willebrand Factor.
J Thromb Haemost.
2006;
4
(10)
2103-2114
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 9 Batlle J, Perez-Rodriguez A, Lopez-Fernandez M F. Classification of VWD. In: Federici A, Lee C, Berntorp E, et al, eds.
von Willebrand Disease: Basic and Clinical Aspects. Oxford, United Kingdom: Blackwell; 2010: 74-85
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 10
Batlle J, Perez-Rodriguez A, Loures E, Rodriguez-Trillo A, Lopez-Fernandez M F.
Metodos diagnosticos en la enfermedad de von Willebrand. LI Reunión Nacional de la AEHH; XXV Congreso Nacional de la SETH. Barcelona.
Haematologica (Edición española).
2009;
93
(Suplemento 1)
18-22
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 11
Penas N, Perez-Rodriguez A, Torea J H et al..
von Willebrand disease R1374C: type 2A or 2M? A challenge to the revised classification.
High frequency in the northwest of Spain (Galicia).
Am J Hematol.
2005;
80
(3)
188-196
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 12
Perez-Rodriguez A, Garcia-Rivero A, Loures E, Lopez-Fernandez M F, Rodriguez-Trillo A, Batlle J.
Autosomal dominant C1149R von Willebrand disease: phenotypic findings and their implications.
Haematologica.
2009;
94
(5)
679-686
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 13
Batlle J, Perez-Rodriguez A, Franqueira M D, Lopez-Fernandez M F.
Type 2M von Willebrand disease: a variant of type 2A?.
J Thromb Haemost.
2008;
6
(2)
388-390
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 14
Rodeghiero F, Castaman G, Dini E.
Epidemiological investigation of the prevalence of von Willebrand's disease.
Blood.
1987;
69
(2)
454-459
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 15
Sadler J E, Mannucci P M, Berntorp E et al..
Impact, diagnosis and treatment of von Willebrand disease.
Thromb Haemost.
2000;
84
(2)
160-174
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 16
Federici A B, Castaman G, Mannucci P M.
Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of von Willebrand disease in Italy. Italian Association of Haemophilia Centers (AICE).
Haemophilia.
2002;
8
607-611
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 17
Batlle J, Lopez-Fernandez M F, Fraga E L, Trillo A R, Perez-Rodriguez M A.
von Willebrand factor/factor VIII concentrates in the treatment of von Willebrand disease.
Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis.
2009;
20
(2)
89-100
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 18
Budde U, Schneppenheim R, Eikenboom J et al..
Detailed von Willebrand factor multimer analysis in patients with von Willebrand disease in the European study, molecular and clinical markers for the
diagnosis and management of type 1 von Willebrand disease (MCMDM-1VWD).
J Thromb Haemost.
2008;
6
(5)
762-771
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 19
Tosetto A, Rodeghiero F, Castaman G et al..
Impact of plasma von Willebrand factor levels in the diagnosis of type 1 von Willebrand disease: results from a multicenter European study (MCMDM-1VWD).
J Thromb Haemost.
2007;
5
(4)
715-721
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 20
Goodeve A, Eikenboom J, Castaman G et al..
Phenotype and genotype of a cohort of families historically diagnosed with type 1
von Willebrand disease in the European study, Molecular and Clinical Markers for the
Diagnosis and Management of Type 1 von Willebrand Disease (MCMDM-1VWD).
Blood.
2007;
109
(1)
112-121
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 21
Tosetto A, Rodeghiero F, Castaman G et al..
A quantitative analysis of bleeding symptoms in type 1 von Willebrand disease: results from a multicenter European study (MCMDM-1 VWD).
J Thromb Haemost.
2006;
4
(4)
766-773
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 22
Rodeghiero F, Castaman G, Tosetto A et al..
The discriminant power of bleeding history for the diagnosis of type 1 von Willebrand disease: an international, multicenter study.
J Thromb Haemost.
2005;
3
(12)
2619-2626
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 23
Castaman G, Lethagen S, Federici A B et al..
Response to desmopressin is influenced by the genotype and phenotype in type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD): results from the European Study MCMDM-1VWD.
Blood.
2008;
111
(7)
3531-3539
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 24
Eikenboom J, Van Marion V, Putter H et al..
Linkage analysis in families diagnosed with type 1 von Willebrand disease in the European study, molecular and clinical markers for the
diagnosis and management of type 1 VWD.
J Thromb Haemost.
2006;
4
(4)
774-782
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 25
Haberichter S L, Castaman G, Budde U et al..
Identification of type 1 von Willebrand disease patients with reduced von Willebrand factor survival by assay of the VWF propeptide in the European study:
molecular and clinical markers for the diagnosis and management of type 1 VWD (MCMDM-1VWD).
Blood.
2008;
111
(10)
4979-4985
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 26
Castaman G, Tosetto A, Goodeve A et al..
The impact of bleeding history, von Willebrand factor and PFA-100(®) on the diagnosis of type 1 von Willebrand disease: results from the European study MCMDM-1VWD.
Br J Haematol.
2010;
151
(3)
245-251
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 27
Castaman G, Tosetto A, Cappelletti A et al..
Validation of a rapid test (VWF-LIA) for the quantitative determination of von Willebrand factor antigen in type 1 von Willebrand disease diagnosis within the European multicenter study MCMDM-1VWD.
Thromb Res.
2010;
126
(3)
227-231
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
- 28
Eikenboom J, Hilbert L, Ribba A S et al..
Expression of 14 von Willebrand factor mutations identified in patients with type 1 von Willebrand disease from the MCMDM-1VWD study.
J Thromb Haemost.
2009;
7
(8)
1304-1312
Reference Ris Wihthout Link
Javier BatlleMD
Department of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela
Spain. A Coruna (Hospital Materno Infantil building). Carretera del Pasaje s/n. 15006
- A Coruña. España
Email: Francisco.Javier.Batlle.Fonrodona@sergas.es