- About this Module
- Co-Editors Welcome
- Introduction
- The History of VWD
- Definitions & Classification
- Pathophysiology
- Evolutionary Medicine
- Epidemiology
- Clinical Presentation
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Special Situations in VWD
- Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome
- Longitudinal Care
- Patient Resources
- Clinician Communication
- Humanities, Meaning & Experience
- Journal Club
- Review Library
- Clinical Practice Guidelines
- Beyond the Guidelines
- Clinical Cases
- Media Library
von Willebrand disease (vWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder, caused by quantitative or qualitative defects in von Willebrand factor (vWF).
Understanding vWD requires more than knowing its laboratory abnormalities—it demands understanding how vWF dysfunction manifests across diverse bleeding phenotypes, how historical context shaped classification systems, and how clinicians navigate diagnosis in the face of overlapping normal variation. Medical trainees often encounter vWD as a “platelet problem,” but the biology is more nuanced: vWF bridges hemostasis and thrombosis, its levels fluctuate with stress and blood type, and clinical decision-making hinges on phenotype, not just genotype. Mastering vWD means understanding the pathophysiology that drives bleeding symptoms, the epidemiology that frames prevalence and presentation patterns, and the clinical reasoning that determines when to diagnose, when to observe, and how to individualize treatment across the lifespan.
Start Here
If you are new to vWD, begin with the foundational clinical sequence: definitions and classifications, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment strategy. These sections establish the core mechanism, the major bleeding phenotypes, and the diagnostic and therapeutic decision points.
Recommended starting path
Definitions → Clinical Presentation → Diagnosis → Treatment Strategy
About this module
A comprehensive learning environment that integrates clinical reasoning, pathophysiology, historical context, and patient perspectives to develop a nuanced understanding of von Willebrand disease across the lifespan.
Co-Editors
Content developed in collaboration with:
David P. Lillicrap, MD
Professor of Pathology and Molecular Medicine
Queen’s University
Kevin Barnum, MD, PhD
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Hematology/Oncology
Support
Developed with support from an unrestricted educational grant from Takeda.
Editorial Methodology
This module was developed through a combination of expert authorship, literature review, and AI-assisted tools for information organization and drafting support. The primary written content is reviewed, revised, and approved by physician editors and subject-matter experts prior to publication. Supplemental educational resources generated with AI-based tools, including podcasts, slideshows, infographics, and quizzes, are clearly identified as such and are intended to complement the core content.