von Willebrand Disease Treatments

Treatment

Many people with vWD do not need treatment. If you do, your treatment will depend on the type and severity of your vWD. In many cases, treatment is only necessary if you are having a surgical or dental procedure that is likely to cause bleeding.

Treatment may include:

• Desmopressin —This medicine usually controls bleeding in mild cases of type I vWD by raising the level of vWF in the blood. It can be taken as:
  • Nasal spray (Stimate)
  • Injection (DDAVP)
• Intravenous infusions to control your bleeding—These infusions are concentrates that contain:
  • Factor VIII
  • von Willebrand Factor
• Birth control pills—This medication may be used to control heavy menstrual periods in women with type 1 vWD.
• Antifibrinolytic medicine (often Amicar )—This can be used for bleeding in the nose or mouth. It helps keep a clot that has already formed from being dissolved.