What Is High Von Willebrand Factor?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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VWF is an acute-phase reactant and may be elevated

above baseline

in association with a variety of conditions including inflammation, stress, exercise, liver disease, pregnancy or estrogen therapy. Baseline VWF levels also increase with aging.

What is high von Willebrand factor antigen?

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a plasma glycoprotein

that acts as carrier for factor VIII

. Elevated levels of VWF are associated with elevated coagulation factor VIII levels. An increased VWF level in plasma is found to be associated with VTE [4, 5, 11, 13].

What does it mean if your factor VIII is high?

If your levels of factor VIII are too high, you are

likely at a higher risk for thrombosis

, which is blood clot formation in your blood vessels. In this case, your doctor may perform additional tests or prescribe anticoagulant therapy.

What is the normal range for von Willebrand factor?

In the general population, the mean level of plasma VWF is 100 IU per dL, with a normal reference range

between 50 and 200 IU per dL

.

How is high von Willebrand factor treated?


Desmopressin

. This medication is available as an injection (DDAVP) or nasal spray (Minirin) It’s a synthetic hormone that controls bleeding by stimulating your body to release more of the von Willebrand factor stored in the lining of your blood vessels.

What is Factor 9 in the blood?

Factor IX is a protein produced naturally in the body. It

helps the blood form clots to stop bleeding

. Injections of factor IX are used to treat hemophilia B, which is sometimes called Christmas disease.

What does it mean when your clotting factor is too high?

People with high FXI levels have

an increased risk of a blood clot in a deep vein

, such as a vein in the leg. The higher the FXI level, the greater the risk of a blood clot. Increased levels of FXI also have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease in women.

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.

How can I lower my von Willebrand factor?

Treatment options for patients with low VWF and significant bleeding phenotypes include antifibrinolytic agents, such as

tranexamic acid or aminocaproic acid, DDAVP, and VWF-containing concentrates

. Tranexamic acid has been widely used in the management and prevention of bleeding in VWD.

Can von Willebrand disease go away?

Von Willebrand factor helps blood cells stick together (clot) when you bleed. If there’s not enough of it or it does not work properly, it takes longer for bleeding to stop.

There’s currently no cure for VWD

, but it does not usually cause serious problems and most people with it can live normal, active lives.

What is the prognosis of von Willebrand disease?

Outlook / Prognosis

Von Willebrand disease is

a lifelong condition

. For most people with the disease it doesn’t interfere with living active lives. Usually, it only needs to be addressed after a severe injury or if you need surgery.

How does von Willebrand disease affect the body?

Von Willebrand disease is a lifelong

bleeding disorder in which your blood doesn’t clot well

. 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.

How is von Willebrand disease different from hemophilia?

Like hemophilia, VWD is passed on through the genes from parent to child. But unlike hemophilia,

men and women have an equal chance of getting VWD

. It is possible for a person to have both von Willebrand Disease and hemophilia. Unlike hemophilia, people with VWD rarely bleed into their joints.

Is von Willebrand disease considered a rare disease?

Platelet-type von Willebrand disease (PT-VWD), also known as pseudo-von Willebrand disease, is an

extremely rare genetic disorder

characterized by prolonged bleeding time.

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)

Which lab test will be affected in case of von Willebrand disease?


Prothrombin Time (PT) Test

It measures primarily the clotting ability of factors I (1), II (2), V (5), VII (7), and X (10). If the level of any one of these factors is too low, it will take longer than normal for the blood to clot. The results of this test will be normal among most people with VWD.

Sophia Kim
Author
Sophia Kim
Sophia Kim is a food writer with a passion for cooking and entertaining. She has worked in various restaurants and catering companies, and has written for several food publications. Sophia's expertise in cooking and entertaining will help you create memorable meals and events.