About Von Willebrand Disease — What is VWD
Types and Symptoms of von Willebrand Disease
Diagnosing von Willebrand Disease
Treatment Options
Humate-P
Humat-P for VWD — High-Quality VWF
Using Humate-P
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Important Safety Information
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About von Willebrand Disease—What is von Willebrand Disease?

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited coagulation disorder in humans.1 It occurs in about 1% of the general population.2

What is VWD?
VWD is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by an insufficient amount of von Willebrand factor (VWF) protein in the blood, or VWF that is defective. Because VWF is essential in primary hemostasis, an insufficient amount or a defective supply of VWF interferes with proper platelet adherence or aggregation.3

Facts about VWD

  • VWD is the most common inherited coagulation disorder—affecting approximately 1% of the world’s population1,2
  • It occurs at the same rate in males and females1
  • The disease is marked by an absence of or defective VWF3
  • In most cases, VWD is genetically passed from parent to child; in rare cases, VWD can be acquired4


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. The risk of transmission of infectious agents, including viruses and, theoretically, the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) agent, cannot be completely eliminated.

The most common adverse reactions reported in patients receiving Humate-P® 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 full prescribing information.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

The information provided herein is solely for use by physicians and healthcare professionals in the United States. The CSL Behring product listed may not have been approved in other countries and may not be available everywhere.

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. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Diseases and Conditions Index. What is von Willebrand disease? Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/vWD/vWD_WhatIs.html. Accessed April 29, 2005.
  4. The “Other” Bleeding Disorder. Available at: http://www.haemophilia.org.za/Vonwil2.htm. Accessed April 15, 2005.