Can Von Willebrand Disease Cause Low Platelet Count?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can von Willebrand disease cause low platelet count? Bleeding tendency

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Do you have low platelets with von Willebrand disease?

Purpose: von Willebrand disease (vWD) is the most common hereditary bleeding disorder and type 2B combines thrombocytopenia. So

it must be considered in patients found to have low platelet counts, particularly if there is a family history of mucocutaneous hemorrhage

.

How does von Willebrand disease affect platelets?


The body removes the platelets attached to VWF, causing a reduced amount of both platelets and VWF in the blood when needed to form a clot

. In Type 2M, the VWF does not attach to the platelets as it should, which decreases the platelets’ ability to form a clot when an injury occurs.

Is von Willebrand disease a platelet disorder?

Platelet-type von Willebrand disease (PT-VWD) is

an autosomal dominant rare bleeding disorder characterized by hyperresponsive platelets

.

Do platelets have von Willebrand factor?

Platelet-Derived von Willebrand Factor


VWF is also produced in megakaryocytes and stored as large VWF multimers in alpha granules within the platelets

. Platelet-derived VWF is important for platelet adhesion, aggregation, and thrombus formation.

What cause low platelets?

Decreased production of platelets


Some types of anemia

. Viral infections, such as hepatitis C or HIV. Chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy. Heavy alcohol consumption.

Does von Willebrand disease affect immune system?

These 3 types are all inherited. There’s also a rare type that is not inherited called “acquired von Willebrand disease”. This can start at any age and is

usually associated with other conditions that affect the blood, immune system or heart

.

Is von Willebrand an autoimmune disease?

While the more common types of von Willebrand’s disease are inherited,

it is also possible to develop the condition from an autoimmune disease such as lupus or cancer, or as a result of taking some medications

. This is called acquired von Willebrand’s disease.

Does von Willebrand disease make you tired?


The weakening, fatigue and other disruptive effects of VWD can be stopped

. Even childbirth can be made safe for a mother and baby. If you have unexplained bleeding symptoms, remember to ask your doctor, “Could I have von Willebrand disease?”

What can you do about low platelets?

If your platelet level becomes too low,

your doctor can replace lost blood with transfusions of packed red blood cells or platelets

. Medications. If your condition is related to an immune system problem, your doctor might prescribe drugs to boost your platelet count. The first-choice drug might be a corticosteroid.

How does von Willebrand disease affect the body?

Overview. Von Willebrand disease is a lifelong bleeding disorder in which

your blood doesn’t clot properly

. People with the disease have low levels of von Willebrand factor, a protein that helps blood clot, or the protein doesn’t perform as it should.

Can you give blood if you have von Willebrand disease?

You have blood-related health issues

Blood and bleeding diseases or issues will often disqualify you from donating blood. If you suffer from hemophilia, Von Willebrand disease, hereditary hemochromatosis, or sickle cell disease,

you are not eligible to donate blood

.

What foods should be avoided with von Willebrand disease?

  • large glasses of juice.
  • soft drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened tea.
  • heavy gravies and sauces.
  • butter, shortening, or lard.
  • full-fat dairy products.
  • candy.
  • foods containing trans fats, including fried. foods and baked goods (pastries, pizza, pie, cookies, and crackers)

What is the best test to diagnose von Willebrand’s disease?


Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) Test

It measures the clotting ability of factors VIII (8), IX (9), XI (11), and XII (12). If any of these clotting factors is too low, it will take longer than normal for the blood to clot. The results of this test will show a longer clotting time among some people with VWD.

When should you suspect von Willebrand disease?


Von Willebrand factor levels of 30 IU per dL or lower

are required for the definite diagnosis of inherited von Willebrand disease. Persons with levels of 30 to 50 IU per dL may not have the disease, but may need agents to increase von Willebrand factor levels during invasive procedures or childbirth.

What is platelet type VWD?

Platelet-type VWD is a GPIb gain-of-function platelet defect that causes hyperfunctional platelets and phenotypically mimics VWD with mucocutaneous bleeding, loss of higher VWF multimers, enhanced RIPA, and variable thrombocytopenia.

What cancers cause low platelets?

Certain cancers such as

leukemia or lymphoma

can lower your platelet count. The abnormal cells in these cancers can crowd out healthy cells in the bone marrow, where platelets are made. Less common causes of a low platelet count include: Cancer that spreads to the bone.

What is the alarming level of platelets?

A high platelet count is

400,000 (400 × 10

9

/L) or above

. A higher-than-normal number of platelets is called thrombocytosis. It means your body is making too many platelets.

Can von Willebrand disease cause joint pain?

For example, patients with Type 3 von Willebrand disease may experience bleeding into the joints or joint spaces (also known as a hemarthrosis) because they also have a low factor VIII level.

Symptoms of joint bleeding include joint pain and swelling

.

Can you take ibuprofen with von Willebrand disease?

If you have von Willebrand disease (VWD), you can take steps to prevent bleeding and stay healthy. For example,

avoid over-the-counter medicines that can affect blood clotting

, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Always check with your doctor before taking any medicines.

Can lupus cause von Willebrand?

Abstract. Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AvWS) in systemic lupus erythematodes (SLE) is caused by autoantibodies directed against the circulating von Willebrand factor (vWF)/factor VIII (FVIII) complex.

Can you have surgery with von Willebrand disease?

The results from this retrospective study indicate that

surgery can be safely performed by providing adequate and timely hemostasis during and after the procedure in patients with vWD

. Perioperative and postoperative bleeding complications are rare when patients are closely and carefully monitored.

What is Type 2 von Willebrand disease?

Disease definition.

A form of von Willebrand disease (VWD) characterized by a bleeding disorder associated with a qualitative deficiency and functional anomalies of the Willebrand factor (VWF)

.

Can you take Tylenol with von Willebrand?

To help prevent bleeding episodes, talk with your doctor before taking blood-thinning medications — such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve).

Your doctor might instead recommend pain and fever relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)

. Tell your doctors and dentist.

What is the life expectancy for von Willebrand disease?


Type 1 and type 2 Von Willebrand Disease does not affect day-to-day life or life expectancy

. Patients need to anticipate when problems could occur (surgery, dental procedures, menstruation, traumatic injury) and follow their doctor’s advice on what to do in these situations.

Does alcohol affect von Willebrand disease?


Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower levels of fibrinogen, plasma viscosity, von Willebrand factor, and factor VII

. This association was most pronounced for consumers of 3 to 7 drinks weekly for viscosity and 7 to 21 drinks weekly for the other hemostatic measures.

Does von Willebrand cause anemia?

People who have the most serious form of von Willebrand disease may have bleeding into their joints or soft tissues that cause severe pain and swelling.

Some people develop anemia

.

When should I be concerned about low platelet count?


If you experience any signs of internal bleeding

, seek immediate medical attention. In rare cases, thrombocytopenia may lead to bleeding in your brain. Talk to a healthcare professional if you have a low platelet count and experience headaches or neurological problems.

Do low platelets make you feel tired?

What foods to avoid if you have low platelets?

  • Alcohol: Wine, liquor, and regular or nonalcoholic beer can lower platelet counts. …
  • Refined grains, sugar, and foods or drinks with added sugar: These may cause fatigue and reduce platelet count.

Can von Willebrand disease cause high platelets?

An increasing platelet count in thrombocythemia to above 1,000 x 10(9)/L is accompanied by the acquisition of a von Willebrand factor deficiency due to the loss of intermediate and large von Willebrand factor multimers.

Can von Willebrand disease cause headaches?

How can you tell the difference between hemophilia and von Willebrand?

It is possible for a person to have both von Willebrand Disease and hemophilia. Unlike hemophilia,

people with VWD rarely bleed into their joints

. Less than 8% of patients report joint bleeding. VWD is more likely to cause easy bruising and nosebleeds.

Is von Willebrand disease dominant or recessive?

Most cases of type 1 and type 2 von Willebrand disease are inherited in an

autosomal dominant

pattern , which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder.

Why can’t I donate platelets?

There are some reasons why you can’t donate platelets, even if you have given blood or platelets in the past. Reasons you can never donate include:

having a blood transfusion

. having most types of cancer.

Which blood component will be given to a patient with von Willebrand’s disease?

In an emergency, doctors might give a person with VWD a blood product called cryoprecipitate to stop bleeding. It contains

von Willebrand factor

along with other factor proteins. However, since cryoprecipitate is not treated to kill viruses, it is not recommended.

Emily Lee
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Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.