How To Manage Von Willebrand Disease

Replacement Therapies

Many patients with von Willebrand disease benefit from the use of replacement therapies. These treatments are given through an intravenous infusion, and they typically consist of specific doses of concentrated blood-clotting factors that contain both von Willebrand factor and factor VIII. Replacement therapies are useful for patients with all types of von Willebrand disease, and hematologists often recommend these treatments both for patients who cannot take desmopressin and for those in whom it has been ineffective. In 2016, a new type of replacement therapy was approved for patients eighteen years old and older. The new therapy is a recombinant form of von Willebrand factor made through genetic engineering. The recombinant production process enables the medication to be produced without the use of plasma, and this can reduce the risk of allergic reactions and viral infections that sometimes occur with older replacement therapies. While receiving an infusion of this new recombinant von Willebrand factor, patients will have their vital signs closely monitored. They should report any side effects, including a fast heart rate, hot flushes, itching, chest pain, muscle twitching, and nausea, to their healthcare team immediately.

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