Haemostatic and replacement therapy in von Willebrand disease.

A variety of haemostatic agents can be helpful for patients with von Willebrand disease in case of bleeding. There are orally administered substances, such as tranexamic acid, oestrogens and prednisone; agents for topical or local use; and medicines for injection or infusion, including desmopressin, blood plasma products and recombinant activated factor VII. The choice depends on the type of haemorrhage, the severity of the disease, presence of inhibitors, availability and cost. Some of these aspects are reviewed here.