The diagnosis and treatment of von Willebrand disease in children

Abstract

von Willebrand disease is the most common bleeding disorder seen in children and it affects approximately 1% of the population. Because the bleeding symptoms in von Willebrand disease are generally mild, the diagnosis is often delayed. Prompt diagnosis and management can help to avoid potentially life-threatening bleeding events and unnecessary exposure to blood products. In this review, the various types of von Willebrand disease are outlined, the difficulties in diagnosis are discussed and the therapeutic approach to this common disorder is described.