Can You Develop Von Willebrand Disease Later In Life?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can you develop von Willebrand disease later in life?

Rarely, von Willebrand disease can develop later in life in people who didn’t inherit an affected gene from a parent

. This is known as acquired von Willebrand syndrome, and it’s likely caused by an underlying medical condition.

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What causes Acquired von Willebrand disease?

Acquired vWD is a rare disorder that results from the development of antibodies to vWF. Acquired vWD may arise from a variety of mechanisms—including

lymphoproliferative, cardiovascular, and myeloproliferative diseases

—and typically resolves with treatment of the cause.

At what age is von Willebrand disease diagnosed?


76% of men with VWD had been diagnosed by age 10

, but 50% of women with VWD were not diagnosed until after age 12.

Can you have mild von Willebrand disease?


type 1 – the mildest and most common type

. People with type 1 VWD have a reduced level of von Willebrand factor in their blood. Bleeding is mostly only a problem if you have surgery, injure yourself, or have a tooth removed. type 2 – in people with this type of VWD, von Willebrand factor does not work properly.

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.

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)

How do you know if you have a bleeding disorder?

Signs and symptoms of a bleeding disorder:

Bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days from the time bleeding starts until the time it ends; Flooding or gushing of blood that limits daily activities, such as work, school, exercise, or social activities; Passing clots that are bigger than a grape; and.

How do you test for von Willebrand?

Diagnostic Tests

The blood tests that a doctor can order to diagnose VWD (or another platelet disorder) include:

Factor VIII clotting activity

―To measure the amount of factor VIII in the blood. Von Willebrand factor antigen―To measure the amount of VWF in the blood.

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.

Can you have von Willebrand’s if your parents don t?


Rarely, von Willebrand disease can develop later in life in people who didn’t inherit an affected gene from a parent

. This is known as acquired von Willebrand syndrome, and it’s likely caused by an underlying medical condition.

Does von Willebrand 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?”

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

.

Does von Willebrand disease cause pain?

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

.

Is von Willebrand disease considered a disability?

People with severe cases of hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, or Von Willebrand disease

may be eligible for disability benefits

. Hemophilia is a genetic disorder characterized by excessive bleeding due to a deficiency of clotting agents in the blood.

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 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.

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.

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.

Can vitamin K help with von Willebrand disease?


It is not effective in Type 3 von Willebrand disease

. Should I take extra vitamin K to help my blood clot? Von Willebrand disease is not related to a vitamin K deficiency- you have enough vitamin K already so giving more will not help your body form a clot.

Can you develop a blood clotting disorder later in life?


Thrombophilia can be inherited or it can be acquired later in life

. Thrombophilia doesn’t cause any symptoms, so people might not even know they have it unless they have a blood clot.

What is the most common inherited bleeding disorder?

The most common types of inherited bleeding disorders are

von Willebrand’s disorder , Haemophilia A (a deficiency of Factor VIII) and Haemophilia B (a deficiency of Factor IX), also known as Christmas Disease

.

Why does my period look like jelly?

A. If you notice on heavy days of your period that blood seems extra-thick, and can sometimes form a jelly-like glob, these are

menstrual clots, a mix of blood and tissue released from your uterus during your period

. They can vary in size and color, and usually, they are nothing to worry about.

Are platelets low in von Willebrand?

Abstract. 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.

Is bleeding time normal in von Willebrand?

Answer.

Bleeding time is prolonged in persons with von Willebrand disease

. Because the von Willebrand protein is phase-reactant (ie, increased synthesis in the presence of inflammation, infection, tissue injury, and pregnancy), a mild prolonged bleeding time may be normalized, resulting in difficulty in diagnosis.

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.

Is von Willebrand more common than hemophilia?

What is the difference between hemophilia and VWD? While both VWD and hemophilia are bleeding disorders, they are not the same disease.

While VWD affects men and women equally, hemophilia is more common in men

.

How many people in the world have von Willebrand?

The prevalence of Von Willebrand disease (VWD) in the general population is estimated at

between 0.6 and 1.3%

(including all forms) depending on the study, but the prevalence of symptomatic VWD that requires specific treatment is approximately 1/10 000. Type 3 VWD is much more rare (1/1 000 000).

How is von Willebrand inherited?

Autosomal dominant VWD is caused by changes in only one copy of the gene related to the disorder. In autosomal dominant inheritance,

a child will inherit the bleeding disorder if he or she gets a VWD allele (the form of the gene that has a genetic change causing VWD) from one parent who has the disorder

.

Is von Willebrand disease acquired or inherited?

What is acquired von Willebrand?

Acquired von Willebrand disease (AvWD) is an acquired bleeding disorder which may suddenly become manifest in individuals, usually in the absence of a personal or family history of bleedings and frequently in association with monoclonal gammopathies, lymphoproliferative, myeloproliferative and autoimmune disorders.

Where does von Willebrand factor come from?

Von Willebrand factor is

made within endothelial cells, which line the inside surface of blood vessels, and bone marrow cells

. The factor is made of several identical subunits. To facilitate binding to various cells and proteins, these subunits are cut into smaller pieces by an enzyme called ADAMTS13.

What gene causes von Willebrand disease?

What gene causes von Willebrand disease?

Increased age, pregnancy, exercise, and stress may cause von Willebrand factor levels in the blood to rise, which can make bleeding symptoms less frequent. This disease is caused by genetic changes in the

VWF gene

and can have different inheritance patterns.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.