Types of von Willebrand Disease Bleeds
Bleeding symptoms in von Willebrand disease tend to occur in mucous membranes or the skin. The most common symptoms in people diagnosed with von Willebrand disease include the following:
- Nose bleeding
- Abnormal or easy bruising (also known as ecchymosis or hematoma)
- Bleeding of the gums
- Bleeding after surgery
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Heavy periods
- Bleeding after childbirth
A person with von Willebrand disease may also need to see a hematologist due to abnormal bleeding after surgeries such as:
- Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
- Dental extractions, such as wisdom teeth
- Urogenital surgical procedures
ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS FOR WOMEN
Women may have bleeding complications related to their menstrual periods and labor and delivery. These symptoms may include:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding: excessive or prolonged bleeding during monthly period. This is a critical issue for females which affects up to 95% of women with von Willebrand disease
- Metrorrhagia: bleeding between periods
- Postpartum bleeding: heavy bleeding or hemorrhage during or after labor and delivery
SIMILARITIES TO HEMOPHILIA
Patients with type 3 von Willebrand disease may share the clinical symptoms and complications associated with moderate to severe factor VIII deficient hemophilia, or hemophilia A. For example, patients with Type 3 von Willebrand disease may experience bleeding into the joints or joint spaces (also known as a hemarthrosis) because they also have a low factor VIII level. Symptoms of joint bleeding include joint pain and swelling.
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