Bleeding management in type 3 von Willebrand disease with anti-von Willebrand factor inhibitor: A literature review and case report

Abstract

Treatment of type 3 von Willebrand disease by infusion of von Willebrand factor (VWF) and factor VIII (FVIII) concentrates may lead to the development of anti-VWF antibodies, challenging haemostasis management. The systematic review of the literature presented here retrieved 15 such cases (surgery n = 11, bleeding n = 4). The heterogeneous patient management mostly involved continuous infusion of FVIII, or recombinant FVIIa together with various other strategies. Off-label infusion of the bispecific monoclonal antibody emicizumab was prescribed in three cases and in a complex local case, ultimately well-controlled with emicizumab. This illustrates the fact that emicizumab appears as a therapeutic option in this context of allo-immunisation.