ROW-V25: von Willebrands Disorder

Erik Aldolf von Willebrand was a finnish medical professional, who discovered vWD in 1925. At first it was believed to be a subtype of haemophilia, however further studies outlined that different proteins were involved. vWD is an inherited bleeding disorder which affects the bloods ability to clot. The von Willebrand Factor is a protein in the blood that controls bleeding. Most people with vWD do not have enough of this protein in their blood supply, for others it does not function as it should. The overall effect of this disorder is that the blood takes longer to clot, and in turn bleeding takes longer to stop.

Since 1925 what we know about the disorder has evolved significantly. There were initially three types, however type two now has 4 sub types. Some countries even place sub types into type one in order to classify the severity. The types of treatments available have also drastically changed, where previously the only option was a whole blood transfusion on a regular basis. There are now even synthetic factor replacements that don’t require a human blood donation.

Around 80% of people with vWD have type 1, which usually means their symptoms are mild. The other 20% fall into the type 2 sub types, which revolve around defects to the protein or type 3, which is usually most severe type.

So, what does vWD look like?

You’ve probably at least once heard someone mention that they bruise easily. I don’t recall a time in my life where I didn’t have a single bruise on my body, amplified by my excessive clumsiness. Generally, this is the most common outward facing symptom of vWD: bruises. You might also notice someone having frequent, spontaneous nosebleeds. Other than this, you will find for the most part that vWD is an invisible illness. Joint and muscle bleeds mean absolutely no contact sports, but you can bet they will still happen anyway. This causes stiffness, pain and restricts mobility if not treated correctly, then rehabilitation with a physical therapist each time. There are plenty of other opportunities for internal bleeding to occur throughout any organ in the body too. All of this unusual bleeding of course has other impacts including iron deficiency anaemia, hosting another list of symptoms.

This aside, vWD looks like a normal person, doing their best to battle through the ongoing feeling of tiredness and pain and live a wholesome, fun life!