Thromb Haemost 2014; 112(03): 427-431
DOI: 10.1160/TH13-11-0952
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

Gastrointestinal angiodysplasia and bleeding in von Willebrand disease

Massimo Franchini
1   Department of Transfusion Medicine and Hematology, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantova, Italy
,
Pier Mannuccio Mannucci
2   Scientific Direction, IRCCS Cà Granda Foundation Maggiore Hospital, Milan, Italy
› Institutsangaben
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Publikationsverlauf

Received: 19. November 2013

Accepted after minor revision: 08. April 2014

Publikationsdatum:
20. November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common genetic bleeding disorder, is characterised by a quantitative or qualitative defect of von Willebrand factor (VWF). Patients with VWD suffer from mucocutaneous bleeding, of severity usually proportional to the degree of VWF defect. In particular, gastrointestinal bleeding associated with angiodysplasia is often a severe symptom of difficult management. This review focuses on the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of VWD-associated gastrointestinal angiodysplasia and related bleeding.