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Semin Thromb Hemost 2011; 37(5): 528-534
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1281039
© Thieme Medical Publishers

von Willebrand Disease in the United States: A Perspective from Wisconsin

Veronica H. Flood1 , 2 , Joan Cox Gill1 , 2 , 3 , Kenneth D. Friedman3 , Daniel B. Bellissimo3 , Sandra L. Haberichter3 , Robert R. Montgomery1 , 2 , 3
  • 1Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wisconsin
  • 2Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Wisconsin
  • 3Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Publication History

Publication Date:
18 November 2011 (online)

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ABSTRACT

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a common bleeding disorder with prevalence in the United States of 0.01 to 1% and a prevalence in the region around Milwaukee, Wisconsin, of at least 0.025%. Care of local patients with VWD primarily occurs through our comprehensive treatment centers, although some patients are managed solely by their primary care physician or community hematologist. Type 1 VWD is the most common subtype, with more females carrying this diagnosis than males. Diagnosis and treatment in general follows guidelines outlined by the National Institutes of Health. An ongoing study, the Zimmerman Program for the Molecular and Clinical Biology of VWD, is currently enrolling patients with all VWD subtypes across the United States to better delineate the extent of VWD and correlate bleeding symptoms with laboratory findings and VWF (von Willebrand factor) sequence variations. Results so far have shown that VWF gene polymorphisms are common, particularly in African Americans, and may affect laboratory assays of VWF function.

KEYWORDS

Von Willebrand disease - von Willebrand factor - bleeding disorders

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Veronica H FloodM.D. 

Comprehensive Center for Bleeding Disorders, 8739 Watertown Plank Road

P.O. Box 2178, Milwaukee, WI 53201-2178

Email: vflood@mcw.edu

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