Osmosis video - Von Willebrand disease

Von Willebrand disease is a bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in the quantity or quality of von Willebrand factor, a plasma glycoprotein that plays a key role in forming blood clots. Symptoms depend on the type of the disease and range from mild to severe. People with acquired von Willebrand disease present with new onset of bleeding in the context of other pathologic conditions or medication use. For treatment, people who present with minor bleeding are treated with desmopressin analogs, while those with severe bleeding receive exogenous von Willebrand factor and factor VIII concentrates.