Von Willebrand's disease diagnosis and laboratory issues

In this paper, the recent developments in the diagnosis and laboratory issues of von Willebrand's disease (VWD) are presented. Dr. Castaman reviews the functional tests available for the diagnosis of VWD and their pathophysiological significance, focusing on which tests are best used in the diagnosis and classification of VWD. Dr Montgomery reviews an emerging issue that is accelerated clearance of von Willebrand factor (VWF) occurring in some variants of VWD. This phenotype can be suspected by the presence of an increased ratio between the VWF propeptide and the VWF antigen. These patients have typically a robust, but short-lived increase of FVIII and VWF after desmopressin. Dr Meschengieser reviews the determinants of bleeding after surgery in patients with VWD, emphasizing the role of bleeding history in predicting this risk. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.Fil: Castaman, G.. Hospital San Bartolo; ItaliaFil: Montgomery, R. R.. Blood Research Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Meschengieser, S. S.. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Haberichter, S. L.. Blood Research Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Woods, Adriana Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Lazzari, María Ángela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires; Argentin