Von Willebrand Disease Awareness Day Date in the current year: March 1, 2026

Bleeding disorders (coagulopathies) are characterized by impaired blood clotting, which increases the likelihood of spontaneous, heavy, or prolonged bleeding. These disorders can be acquired or inherited. Hemophilia is probably the best-known hereditary bleeding disorder, but von Willebrand disease is actually the most common.

Bleeding disorders are caused by either reduced levels or dysfunction of platelets (cell fragments necessary for blood clotting) or by a defect, deficiency, or complete absence of a clotting factor (one of specialized proteins involved in the clotting process). Von Willebrand disease (VWD) belongs to the second type. It is caused by a deficiency in the quantity or quality of the clotting factor known as von Willebrand factor (VWF), which makes platelets stick together and carries another essential blood clotting protein, factor VIII. The disease and the clotting factor are both named after Erik Adolf von Willebrand, who first described the disease in 1926.

There are three types of “true” VWD and two bleeding disorders traditionally grouped with VWD due to certain similarities: acquired von Willebrand syndrome and platelet-type VWD (pseudo-VWD). Type 1 is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a VWF deficiency, meaning there is not enough VWF. Type 2 is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a VWF defect meaning there is enough VWF, but it does not function properly. It is further classified into several subtypes. Type 3 is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a severe VWF deficiency or complete absence of the protein.

Type 1 is the most common and underdiagnosed type due to its mild symptoms, which do not immediately suggest a bleeding disorder, such as easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and heavy menstrual flow in women. Often, individuals only receive a diagnosis after major surgery or a serious injury.

Symptoms in patients with type 2 vary depending on the subtype. Some have mild symptoms, while others have more pronounced symptoms and may be misdiagnosed with mild hemophilia A. Type 3 is the most severe because patients have little to no von Willebrand factor (VWF). Symptoms include frequent nosebleeds, severe mucosal bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, significant bleeding after injury or surgery, and sometimes bleeding into joints.

There are two main treatments for VWD; the appropriate treatment depends on the type. Types 1 and 2A are treated with desmopressin, which helps the body release more VWF into the bloodstream. Desmopressin is typically administered after minor injuries or before dental or minor surgical procedures. Other subtypes of type 2, as well as type 3, are usually treated with infusions of von Willebrand factor concentrate because desmopressin is ineffective and may be harmful in some cases.

Von Willebrand Disease Awareness Day is observed on March 1, which is the first day of National Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month in the US. It is promoted by the Hemophilia Federation of America and other relevant organizations.