Von Willebrand disease and menorrhagia

INTRODUCTION: Known since over than seventy years, von willebrand disaese is the most common herediary bleeding disorder. This condition was first described by Pr. Willebrand in 1926 in a family with (positive) history of excesive bleeding tendency. Von Willebrand desease is characterized by a lifelong tendency toward easy spontaneous mucosal or post operative bleeding. In females, excessive or prolonged menorrhagia could be a sign of von willebrand desease; symptoms that are often misunderstood to be gynecologic rather than hematologic problem. In the present work, we have tried to screen for this anomaly in females with menorrhagia, following a simple anamnestic, clinical and biological protocol. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In a seventeen month study, fifty two procreating females with menorrhagia were recruited in the haematology laboratory of Aristide le Dantec hospital with the cooperation of gynecology and obstetric departements of Aristide Le Dantec, Abass Ndao and grand yoff Hospitals. RESULTS: Eight patients were revealed to be von willebrand positive (prevalence: 15%). The diagnosis was retained on the basis of epidemiological, clinical and biological data. CONCLUSION: These simple and accessible criteria should allow better handling of patients with hemorragic disorders.