What is von Willebrand factor?
What is von Willebrand factor?
Proteins called clotting factors are needed for blood to clot properly and help prevent too much bleeding. A von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen test measures the amount of a clotting factor called von Willebrand factor. The body’s clotting factors work together in a special order, almost like pieces of a puzzle.
What is the meaning of VWF?
Blood contains many proteins that help the blood clot when needed. One of these proteins is called von Willebrand factor (VWF). People with VWD either have a low level of VWF in their blood or the VWF protein doesn’t work the way it should.
What does von Willebrand factor do in the blood?
Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a large multimeric glycoprotein that performs two critical functions in primary hemostasis: it acts as a bridging molecule at sites of vascular injury for normal platelet adhesion, and under high shear conditions, it promotes platelet aggregation.
Where is von Willebrand factor?
Von Willebrand factor is made within endothelial cells, which line the inside surface of blood vessels, and bone marrow cells. The factor is made of several identical subunits. To facilitate binding to various cells and proteins, these subunits are cut into smaller pieces by an enzyme called ADAMTS13.
Where does von Willebrand Factor work?
Von Willebrand factor (VWF) works by mediating the adherence of platelets to one another and to sites of vascular damage. VWF binds to a protein complex made up of the glycoproteins Ib, IX, and V on the surfaces of platelets.
What is high von Willebrand factor?
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.
Is von Willebrand a hemophilia?
Factor VIII is involved in another inherited clotting disorder called hemophilia. But unlike hemophilia, which mainly affects males, von Willebrand disease affects males and females and is usually milder.
Is von Willebrand factor in platelets?
von Willebrand factor (vWF) circulates in the blood in two distinct compartments. One, plasma vWF, is synthesized and released from endothelial cells; the second, synthesized by megakaryocytes, circulates in platelets primarily stored in the alpha granules.
Is von Willebrand disease the same as hemophilia?
While both VWD and hemophilia are bleeding disorders, they are not the same disease. While VWD affects men and women equally, hemophilia is more common in men.
What is the difference between von williebrand and hemophilia?
Von Willebrand disease is caused by a deficiency of the Von Willebrand factor whereas hemophilia is caused by a deficiency of factor VIII or factor IX. There is a considerable difference between Von Willebrand disease and hemophilia although they share some common features.
What is the prognosis for von Willebrand disease?
Most people who have type 1 von Willebrand disease are able to live normal lives with only mild bleeding issues. If you have type 2, you’re at an increased risk of experiencing mild to moderate bleeding and complications. You may experience worse bleeding in the case of infection, surgery, or pregnancy.
What are the symptoms of von Willebrand disease?
easy bruising
Does von Willebrand disease have a cure?
Von Willebrand factor helps blood cells stick together (clot) when you bleed. If there isn’t enough of it or it doesn’t work properly, it takes longer for bleeding to stop. There’s currently no cure for VWD, but it doesn’t usually cause serious problems and most people with it can live normal, active lives.
