Acquired Von Willebrand's Disease

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Topic Overview

Acquired von Willebrand's disease is a rare bleeding disorder that might be caused by other medical problems or medicines. It prevents blood from clotting properly. It is rarer than the inherited form of von Willebrand's disease.

Medical problems that might cause acquired von Willebrand's disease include:

Rarely, acquired von Willebrand's disease may also develop in direct association with use of certain medicines. When use is discontinued, signs of the disease also end. These medicines include:

  • Ciprofloxacin.
  • Griseofulvin.
  • Valproic acid.

Symptoms include nosebleeds with no previous history of bleeding abnormalities.

Treatment of acquired von Willebrand's disease includes medicines that help your body have enough von Willebrand clotting factor in the blood. This von Willebrand factor helps your blood clot.

Related Information

References

Other Works Consulted

  • Hillman R, et al. (2011). Platelet dysfunction and von Willebrand disease. In Hematology in Clinical Practice, 5th ed., pp. 384-397. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (2007). The Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Management of von Willebrand Disease. (NIH Publication No. 08-5832). Available online: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/vwd.
  • Nichols WL (2016). Von Willebrand disease and hemorrhagic abnormalities of platelet and vascular function. In L Goldman, A Shafer, eds., Goldman-Cecil Medicine, 24th ed., vol. 1, pp. 1167-1172. Philadelphia: Saunders.

Credits

ByHealthwise Staff

Primary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine

Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

Specialist Medical ReviewerBrian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology

Current as ofOctober 13, 2016