Clin Pediatr Hematol Oncol.  2021 Apr;28(1):39-45. 10.15264/cpho.2021.28.1.39.

Significance of Evaluation for von Willebrand Disease in Premenopausal Women with Iron Deficiency Anemia and Menorrhagia

• Kim JH
• Lee JY
• Lee BL
• Kim KH
• Lee JE
• Park JK

• KMID: 2515342
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15264/cpho.2021.28.1.39

Abstract

Background
In Korea, in the case of patients with significant bleeding symptoms due to unknown causes, there are very few studies that evaluate bleeding disorders, including von Willebrand disease (VWD ). VWD should be considered as an important causative factor in patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and unexplained menorrhagia. This study aimed to understand the clinical characteristics of VWD and the significance of evaluation for VWD in premenopausal women in Korea with menorrhagia and ID A.
Methods
Premenopausal women who were diagnosed with IDA and menorrhagia from January 2009 to March 2020 were included. IDA was diagnosed by either low ferritin or transferrin saturation with microcytic anemia. Menorrhagia was evaluated based on the medical records obtained from a gynecologist. VWD diagnosis was defined as von Willebrand factor antigen ＜50% and von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor activity ＜50%, which were low according to the Hospital for Sick Children criteria.
Results
Out of a total of 120 patients, only 12 were tested for VWD, all of whom were pediatric patients. Four of the 12 pediatric patients tested were diagnosed with VWD and 4 of the 120 (3.3%) patients with IDA and menorrhagia were diagnosed with VWD. Three out of the 4 patients was diagnosed with VWD by repeat screening test. Although all parameters are not statistically significant, VWD patients tended to have ID A at a younger age (13.25 vs. 15.00 years) and were more likely to have recurrent IDA than patients without VWD.
Conclusion
Clinical doctors should consider VWD if patients have menorrhagia with ID A. If VWD is suspected, repeated VWD screening tests are necessary to increase the diagnosis rate. Accurate diagnosis of VWD in patients with significant bleeding may facilitate decisions for appropriate treatment.

Keyword

von Willebrand disease; Anemia; Iron deficiency; Menorrhagia