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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staff
A family history of von Willebrand disease is the leading risk factor. A parent can pass the abnormal gene for the disease to his or her child.
Most cases are "autosomal dominant inherited" disorders, which means you only need an abnormal gene from one parent to be affected. If you have the gene for von Willebrand disease, you have a 50 percent chance of transmitting this gene to your offspring.
The most severe form of the condition (type 3) is autosomal recessive, which means both of your parents have to pass an abnormal gene to you.
Von Willebrand disease affects males and females about equally and is present in up to 1 percent of the U.S. population.
Race does not appear to play a role in the disease.
- Von Willebrand disease. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/vWD/vWD_WhatIs.html. Accessed Dec. 17, 2010.
- Rick ME. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of von Willebrand disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index. Accessed Dec. 17, 2010.
- Rick ME. Treatment of von Willebrand disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index. Accessed Dec. 12, 2008. Accessed Dec. 17, 2010.
- Noel P (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 14, 2011.
- Rosenow EC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 20, 2010.
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