Review of von Willebrand disease and perioperative management in dentistry

Abstract

von Willebrand disease (vWD) is the most common inherited coagulation disorder. In addition, vWD can also be acquired later in life in patients with no previous history of pathologic bleeding. vWD is the result of either a quantitative deficit or a qualitative defect in von Willebrand factor (vWF). Each patient's disease is classified based on the type of defect in vWF. Dental and surgical management of patients with vWD is based on the severity of their disease, and several systemic and local treatments are available to allow for the hemorrhage control. This chapter will review important aspects of vWF, classification of vWD, and treatment of the dental patient with vWD.