HealthyWomen Asks: Do You Know the Signs and Symptoms of von Willebrand Disease (VWD)?

RED BANK, N.J., April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Although von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common hereditary bleeding disorder in the United States, affecting up to 1 percent of the population, it is often misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed in women. HealthyWomen, the nation's leading nonprofit health information source for women, has developed new educational materials they hope will shine a light on a disorder that, when undiagnosed and untreated, can severely impact the quality of life for women. 

Caused when von Willebrand factor, a protein in the blood that is necessary for clotting, is either missing or not working properly, VWD affects men and women equally. Yet, when undiagnosed and untreated in women, it puts them at a greater risk for life-threatening bleeding following childbirth and for undergoing unnecessary hysterectomies.  

"Undiagnosed bleeding disorders, like von Willebrand disease, can have real health consequences for women," said Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, RN, executive director of HealthyWomen. "The goal of these new materials, available on HealthyWomen.org, is to spark honest conversations among mothers, sisters and daughters about the signs and symptoms of VWD and to hopefully underscore the need for even more education about this condition."

The five signs and symptoms of von Willebrand disease are:

• Easy bruising
• Frequent or prolonged nosebleeds
• Heavy, prolonged menstruation
• Prolonged bleeding following injury or surgery
• Prolonged bleeding during dental procedures

"Because VWD is a hereditary disorder, many women dismiss tell-tale signs like easy bruising or heavy periods as normal because their mother or other female relatives experienced similar symptoms," said Meera Chitlur, M.D., Director, Hemophilia Treatment Center and Hemostasis Program, Children's Hospital of Michigan and who also works with the Foundation for Women & Girls with Blood Disorders (FWGBD), a non-profit advocacy and education organization dedicated to advancing physician and healthcare provider knowledge of the unique needs and challenges faced by women and adolescent girls with blood disorders.  "Unexplained bleeding or bruising is not normal and is something you should always discuss with your healthcare provider. If you are diagnosed with a bleeding disorder, treatments are available."

The new materials include common questions about VWD answered by an expert, as well as real-life stories of women living with the condition. One of these women, Kristin Prior, 49, recalls her own diagnosis in 1996.

"While I had experienced many of the five signs and symptoms throughout early adulthood it wasn't until I was 32 that I finally received my diagnosis of von Willebrand disease," said Prior. "My hope is that women who are facing some of the same challenges that I did will read my story on HealthyWomen.org and realize that diagnosis and treatment can make a tremendous difference in their lives."  

The von Willebrand disease educational resources were developed through an educational grant from CSL Behring, a world leader in developing and manufacturing safe and effective solutions to treat and manage bleeding disorders.

About HealthyWomen

HealthyWomen (HW) is the nation's leading nonprofit health information source for women. For more than 20 years, women have been coming to HW for answers to their most pressing and personal health care questions. HW provides health information through a wide array of online content and print publications that are original, objective and reviewed and approved by medical experts. Its website, www.HealthyWomen.org®, was recognized by ForbesWoman as one of the "Top 100 Websites for Women" in 2010 and 2011 and was named the top women's health website by Dr. Mehmet Oz in O, The Oprah Magazine. To learn more, visit www.HealthyWomen.org.

About the Foundation for Women & Girls with Blood Disorders

The Foundation for Women & Girls with Blood Disorders (FWGBD) is a non-profit advocacy and education organization dedicated to advancing physician and healthcare provider knowledge of the unique needs and challenges faced by women and adolescent girls with blood disorders.  Founded in 2010, the Foundation's mission is to ensure that all women and adolescent girls with blood disorders are correctly diagnosed and optimally treated and managed at every life stage.  For more information, please visit www.fwgbd.org.

About CSL Behring

CSL Behring is a leader in the plasma protein therapeutics industry. Committed to saving lives and improving the quality of life for people with rare and serious diseases, the company manufactures and markets a range of plasma-derived and recombinant therapies worldwide. CSL Behring therapies are indicated for the treatment of coagulation disorders including hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, primary immune deficiencies, hereditary angioedema and inherited respiratory disease. The company's products are also used in cardiac surgery, organ transplantation, burn treatment and to prevent hemolytic diseases in newborns. CSL Behring operates one of the world's largest plasma collection networks, CSL Plasma. CSL Behring is a subsidiary of CSL Limited (ASX: CSL), a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. For more information, visit www.cslbehring.com.

Contact

Erin Graves, Director of Communications and New Media
HealthyWomen
(732) 978-4947
[email protected]

Lauren Abel
MCS Public Relations on behalf of HealthyWomen and CSL Behring
(800) 477-9626
[email protected]

SOURCE HealthyWomen