Ventricular assist device (VAD), Opens dialog

Condition Basics

What is acquired von Willebrand disease?

Acquired von Willebrand disease is a rare bleeding disorder that might be caused by other medical problems or medicines. It prevents blood from clotting properly. It is rarer than the inherited form of von Willebrand disease.

What causes it?

Medical problems that might cause acquired von Willebrand disease include:

• Lymph disorders, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Plasma disorders, such as multiple myeloma.
• Bone marrow disorders, such as polycythemia vera.
• Solid tumours, such as Wilms' tumour (a fast-growing kidney tumour) and lung cancer.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus.
• Heart problems, such as aortic valve stenosis.
• Use of a cardiac device that helps the heart pump blood, called a ventricular assist device (Figure 1).

Rarely, acquired von Willebrand disease may also develop in direct association with use of certain medicines. When use is discontinued, signs of the disease also end. These medicines include:

• Ciprofloxacin.
• Griseofulvin.
• Valproic acid.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms include nosebleeds with no previous history of bleeding abnormalities.

How is acquired von Willebrand disease treated?

Treatment of acquired von Willebrand disease includes medicines that help your body have enough von Willebrand clotting factor in the blood. This von Willebrand factor helps your blood clot.

Figure 1 - Ventricular assist device (VAD)

A ventricular assist device (VAD), also known as a heart pump, is a mechanical device that helps pump blood from the heart to the rest of your body.

This picture shows one type of a left-ventricular assist device (LVAD). This device pulls blood from the left ventricle and pumps it to the aorta and the rest of the body. Other types of VADs pull blood from the right ventricle or both ventricles and pump it to the rest of the body. The heart still pumps some blood on its own. But the VAD helps the heart pump blood better.

A VAD can be implanted inside the body or worn outside the body. If it is implanted, surgery is done to place it in the chest area.

The pump is connected to a control system by a thin cable, also called a lead or driveline. This cable comes out of your belly through a small cut in your skin called an exit site.

The pump part of a VAD can be implanted, but the VAD battery packs and control system are worn outside the body. The battery packs and control system can be worn on a shoulder strap and belt.

Current as of: July 31, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.