Symptomatology

Type 1

Typically, type 1 VWD presents with mild mucocutaneous bleeding. The most common symptoms are bruising and nosebleeds. Women of reproductive age often experience heavy menstrual bleeding and heavy blood loss during childbirth.1,2

Type 2A

Type 2A VWH individuals usually show mild to moderate mucocutaneous bleeding.3

Type 2B

Type 2B VWH typically has mild to moderate mucocutaneous bleeding. Worsening thrombocytopenia may occur during stress (severe infection/surgery/pregnancy/if desmopressin is used).3

Type 2M

Like type 2B individuals, type 2M VWH typically has mild to moderate mucocutaneous bleeding. VWF: Bleeding episodes can be severe when RCo is low or absent.3

Type 2N

Symptoms of type 2N VWH are similar to those of mild hemophilia A, which includes excessive bleeding during surgery. Gastrointestinal bleeding can also manifest with episodes of severe bleeding.3

Type 3

The individual with type 3 VWH has severe mucocutaneous, joint, soft tissue, gastrointestinal, or surgical bleeding. 3

Acquired vWD

Acquired VWH individuals also present with mild to moderate bleeding.4

References
  1. Kadir RA, Chi C. Women and von Willebrand disease: Controversies in diagnosis and management. Semin Thromb Hemost 2006;32:605-15.
  2. James P, Lillicrap D. Genetic testing for von Willebrand disease: The Canadian experience. Semin Thromb Hemost 2006;32:546-52.
  3. Goodeve AC, James P. Von Willebrand Disease. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=geneandpart=vonwillebrand
  4. Federici AB. Acquired von Willebrand syndrome: An underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed bleeding complication in patients with lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative disorders. Semin Hematol 2006;43:s48-58