Von Willebrand disease (vWD) is an inherited disorder that slows and hinders the blood clotting process. The literature on evaluation, diagnosis, and referral of vWD for nurse practitioners working in primary care is scant. This article presents the history and pathophysiology of vWD and a case study of an individual with vWD, including diagnostic workup, appropriate referral to a hematologist, and ongoing care.
JamesA. H. (2010). Obstetric management of adolescents with bleeding disorders. Journal Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology, 23, S31–S37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpag.2010.08.004.
5.
MillerC. H.PhilippC. S.SteinS. F.KouidesP. A.LukesA. S.HeitJ. A., … KulkarniR. (2011). The spectrum of haemostatic characteristics of women with unexplained menorrhagia. Haemophilia, 17, e223–e229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2516.2010.02382.x.
6.
MillsH. L.Abdel-BakiM. S.TeruyaJ.DietrichJ. E.ShahM. D.MahoneyD.Jr., … SrivathsL. V. (2014). Platelet function defects in adolescents with heavy menstrual bleeding. Haemophilia, 20, 249–254. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hae.12293.
7.
Mullah-AliA. M.ChanA. K.LillicrapD.DeckerK.SeroskiW.MoffatK., … PaiM. K. (2009). Undetected factor VIII in a patient with type 3 von Willebrands disease mistaken as severe haemophilia A. Haemophilia, 15, 1258–1261.
8.
SadlerJ. E., & GralnickH. R. (1994). Commentary: A new classification for von Willebrand disease. Blood, 84(3), 676–679.
