von Willebrand's disease in Mexico: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Genetics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• von Willebrand's disease (VWD) is the most prevalent inherited bleeding disorder globally.
• Previous assumptions suggested VWD absence in certain populations due to ethnicity, but data for Mexico is limited.
• Low awareness and diagnostic challenges hinder understanding of VWD prevalence in Mexico.

Purpose of the Study:

• To objectively diagnose von Willebrand's disease (VWD) in a cohort of Mexican patients with a history of chronic bleeding.
• To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of VWD in the Mexican Mestizo population.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of 133 adult and pediatric patients with high suspicion of VWD in Mexico (July 2010 - August 2011).
• Objective diagnostic criteria were applied to confirm VWD.
• Detailed clinical history, including bleeding symptoms and age of onset, was collected.

Main Results:

• Fifty-three out of 133 patients (40.6%) were diagnosed with VWD.
• Type 1 VWD was most common (88.7%), followed by type 2a (7.5%) and type 3 (3.8%).
• Common symptoms included epistaxis, ecchymosis, hematomas, and gum bleeds; 32.1% experienced severe surgical bleeding, and 26 women reported abnormal gynecological bleeding.

Conclusions:

• This study confirms the presence of von Willebrand's disease (VWD) in the Mexican population.
• Highlights the need for increased awareness and improved diagnostic strategies for VWD in Mexico.
• Early diagnosis and management with therapies like desmopressin and plasma concentrates are crucial for affected individuals.