Chokri Ben Lamine: Laboratory Findings and Management of Severe Type 3 von Willebrand Disease

Chokri Ben Lamine: Laboratory Findings and Management of Severe Type 3 von Willebrand Disease

Chokri Ben Lamine, Adult Hematology and SCT Assistant Consultant at Oncology Center of Excellence at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, shared a post on X:

“Type 3 VWD equals near‑total absence of vWF, which is the most severe form.

Family – autosomal recessive; think consanguinity.

Phenotype

Mucocutaneous bleeding (epistaxis, gums, menorrhagia)
Deep bleeding, such as hemarthrosis and muscle bleeding, results in a clinical picture that mimics hemophilia A.
Labs

vWF:Ag and activity absent
Factor VIII very low – less than ten percent.
aPTT prolonged
PT normal
Pearl: DDAVP is ineffective because there is no endogenous von Willebrand factor available to release.

Life-threatening bleeding (ICH, GI, major trauma)