Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

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VOLUME 13 , ISSUE 6 ( November-December, 2021 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Prevalence of von Willebrand Disease in Patients with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: An Indian Perspective

Shuchi Jain, Nisha R Agrawal, Vijai Tilak, Krishna S Piplani

Keywords : Case–control study, Congenital bleeding disorder, Heavy menstrual bleeding, Inherited bleeding disorder, von Willebrand disease, von Willebrand factor

Citation Information : Jain S, Agrawal NR, Tilak V, Piplani KS. Prevalence of von Willebrand Disease in Patients with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: An Indian Perspective. J South Asian Feder Obs Gynae 2021; 13 (6):369-373.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10006-1968

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 04-03-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: The von Willebrand disease (vWD) is said to be the most common hemostatic disorder among the nonstructural causes of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). This study was carried out to find prevalence of vWD and its subtypes in patients with HMB referred to a tertiary healthcare center. Materials and methods: Two hundred patients with HMB and equal number of age-matched control were subjected to laboratory tests such as complete blood count, bleeding time, and clotting time. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and factor VIII (FVIII):C assay were done manually. von Willebrand factor (vWF:Ag) antigen assay and vWF:Ag collagen binding (CB) were done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Platelet aggregation study with ristocetin was done to find the different subtypes of vWD. Results: vWD and its subtypes were diagnosed in 25 out of 200 women with HMB with a prevalence of 12.5%. Type III vWD was the commonest (15/25, 60%), followed by type II (7/25, 28%) and type I (3/25, 12%). Among the various subcategories of type II, type IIB was conspicuously absent and type IIN was the most frequent (5/7, 71%). Conclusion: vWD should always be considered as one of the possible bleeding disorders in patients with HMB particularly in those referred to a tertiary care center. It was detected in 12.5% of such women, and type III was the most frequent type encountered among its various subtypes. Clinical significance: Detection of vWD and its various subtypes at the earliest opportunity would help the treating physician to plan out a definite line of management and save many women from unwarranted hysterectomies and also improve their quality of life and reproductive potential.


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