The most common hereditary bleeding disorder is which disease?

The most common hereditary bleeding disorder is which disease?

• A. Von Willebrand disease
• B. Hemophilia A
• C. Hemophilia B
• D. Factor XI deficiency

Answer: (A)

Von Willebrand disease is the most common hereditary bleeding disorder. It results from deficiency or dysfunction of von Willebrand factor, the protein that helps platelets stick to damaged blood vessels and also carries and protects circulating factor VIII. Because platelet adhesion is impaired and, in many cases, factor VIII levels are reduced, patients tend to have mucocutaneous bleeding—easy bruising, nosebleeds, gum bleeding, and heavy menstrual bleeding. The condition is usually inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, so it affects both sexes and is more common overall than the X-linked hemophilias (hemophilia A and B) or Factor XI deficiency. While hemophilias involve deficiency of clotting factors VIII or IX and are less prevalent, and Factor XI deficiency is rarer, von Willebrand disease remains the most frequent inherited bleeding disorder.

Von Willebrand disease is the most common hereditary bleeding disorder. It results from deficiency or dysfunction of von Willebrand factor, the protein that helps platelets stick to damaged blood vessels and also carries and protects circulating factor VIII. Because platelet adhesion is impaired and, in many cases, factor VIII levels are reduced, patients tend to have mucocutaneous bleeding—easy bruising, nosebleeds, gum bleeding, and heavy menstrual bleeding. The condition is usually inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, so it affects both sexes and is more common overall than the X-linked hemophilias (hemophilia A and B) or Factor XI deficiency. While hemophilias involve deficiency of clotting factors VIII or IX and are less prevalent, and Factor XI deficiency is rarer, von Willebrand disease remains the most frequent inherited bleeding disorder.