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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
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Hemophilia and Inherited Bleeding Disorders |
Von willebrands disease10/16/1998 |
what is von willebrand's disease, does the drug ddavp help before surgery. my daughter is 8 years old and has to have her addnoids out, is this dangerous, what should we watch for. her ptt is 40, what does this all mean.
von Willebrand's disease is an inherited bleeding disorder which is believed to affect approximately 1 in 100 persons. Both males and females can have this disorder. It can be inherited from either the mother or the father. It is caused by a defect, or problem, in the gene that directs the body to produce the von Willebrand blood clotting factor. This is one of a dozen or more proteins in the blood which work together to form healthy blood clots when an injury occurs. von Willebrand disease can be mild or severe, depending on the amount of von Willebrand factor the body is able to make.The most common symptoms of this disease include easy bruising, frequent nosebleeds, heavy and/or prolonged menstrual periods for women, and unusual bleeding after surgery or after having teeth pulled.
Mild von Willebrand disease can usually be treated by giving DDAVP. This medication causes von Willebrand factor to be released from sites in the body where it is stored. DDAVP does not work for people with severe disease because they don't have enough of the factor in storage sites for the body to release. They can, however, be treated with certain blood products which contain the von Willebrand factor.
Persons with von Willebrand disease can have surgery with little or no additional risk for bleeding if they are treated with the appropriate product both before surgery and after surgery until enough healing has occurred that bleeding is no longer a risk. Persons with mild disease may only need DDAVP. Persons with more severe disease may need to receive one of the blood products which contain the von Willebrand factor.
It is best for persons with von Willebrand disease to see a doctor who specializes in taking care of persons with bleeding disorders. This doctor will have the experience needed to decide on the best treatment at the time of surgery, as well as for any other bleeding problems which may arise.
Most people with von Willebrand disease are able to live very normal lives. This is not a life threatening disease as long as the appropriate precautions are taken.
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Madeline Heffner, BSN, RN Nurse Coord., UC Adult Hemophilia Treatment Center Division of Hematology/Oncology Department of Internal Medicine College of Medicine University of Cincinnati |
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