About Von Willebrand Disease — What is VWD

Types and Symptoms of von Willebrand Disease
Diagnosing von Willebrand Disease
Treatment Options
The Humate-P® Difference: High Quality & Quantity
Home Infusion Video
Mix2Vial™ Needle-Free transfer Device
The CSL Behring Commitment
Resources and Tools
News & Events
Important Safety Information
Prescribing Information
Request More Information
For Healthcare Professionals
      

About von Willebrand Disease: What is VWD?

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder in humans.1 About one in every 100 people has VWD.2 Unlike hemophilia, which is a bleeding disorder mostly affecting men, VWD affects men and women equally.1

People who have VWD take longer than normal to stop bleeding.1 Why? A protein in the blood, called von Willebrand factor (VWF), helps clots form. People with von Willebrand disease don’t have enough von Willebrand factor or their VWF might not work properly.1

Most people who have von Willebrand disease do not even know it.3 They might have key symptoms, but might mistakenly think those signs of VWD are normal or untreatable.


Important Safety Information

Antihemophilic Factor/von Willebrand Factor Complex (Human), Dried, Pasteurized, Humate-P® is indicated in adult patients for treatment and prevention of bleeding in hemophilia A (classical hemophilia). Humate-P® is also indicated in adult and pediatric patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD) for (1) treatment of spontaneous and trauma-induced bleeding episodes, and (2) prevention of excessive bleeding during and after surgery. This applies to patients with severe VWD, and patients with mild and moderate VWD for whom use of desmopressin is known or suspected to be inadequate.

Humate-P® is contraindicated in individuals with a history of anaphylactic or severe systemic response to antihemophilic factor or von Willebrand factor preparations or to any of its components.

Thromboembolic events have been reported in VWD patients receiving coagulation factor replacement, especially in the setting of known risk factors for thrombosis. Caution should be exercised and antithrombotic measures considered.

Humate-P® is derived from human plasma. As with all plasma-derived products, the risk of transmission of infectious agents, including viruses and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent, cannot be completely eliminated.

Although few adverse reactions have been reported the most common are allergic-anaphylactic reactions, including urticaria, chest tightness, rash, pruritus, edema, shock, chills and fever, and hypervolemia. For patients undergoing surgery, the most common adverse reactions are postoperative wound or injection-site bleeding.

Please see accompanying full prescribing information for Humate-P®.

References

  1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Diseases and Conditions Index. Who gets von Willebrand disease? Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/vWD/vWD_ WhoIsAtRisk.html. Accessed April 29, 2005.
  2. Rodeghiero F, Castamon G, Din F. Epidemiological investigation of the prevalence of von Willebrand disease. Blood. 1987;69:454-459.
  3. Rick ME. Diagnosis and management of von Willebrand's syndrome. Med Clin North Am. 1994;78:609-623.