Clinical and laboratory diagnosis of von Willebrand disease: a synopsis of the 2008 NHLBI/NIH guidelines.
Von Willebrand factor (VWF) mediates blood platelet adhesion and accumulation at sites of blood vessel injury, and also carries coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) that is important for generating procoagulant activity. Von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common inherited bleeding disorder, affects males and females, and reflects deficiency or defects of VWF that may also cause decreased FVIII. It may also occur less commonly as an acquired disorder (acquired von Willebrand syndrome). This article briefly summarizes selected features of the March 2008 evidence-based clinical and laboratory diagnostic recommendations from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Expert Panel for assessment for VWD or other bleeding disorders or risks. Management of VWD is also addressed in the NHLBI guidelines, but is not summarized here. The VWD guidelines are available at the NHLBI Web site (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/vwd).
Nichols
William L
WL
Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Hematopathology, Special Coagulation Laboratory, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Rick
Margaret E
ME
Ortel
Thomas L
TL
Montgomery
Robert R
RR
Sadler
J Evan
JE
Yawn
Barbara P
BP
James
Andra H
AH
Hultin
Mae B
MB
Manco-Johnson
Marilyn J
MJ
Weinstein
Mark
M
D006801:Humans; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D014481:United States; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*