Origins of Von Willebrand Factor
Ryan 'Dravis' Knowles

Von Willebrand factor is a blood glycoprotein (a macromolecule composed of a carbohydrate and a protein) of the coagulation system. It is defective or deficient in Von Willebrand disease and is a factor in several other diseases as well, including: Heyde's syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and possibly hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

The primary function of Von Willebrand factor is binding to other proteins, particularly Factor VIII. It is important in platelet adhesion to wounds but it's not an enzyme so it has no catalytic activity. Von Willebrand factor plays a major role in blood coagulation and dysfunction or deficiency of Von Willebrand Factor leads to a bleeding tendency. This is most apparent in tissues that have high blood flow shear in narrow vessels.

Hereditary defects of Von Willebrand factor often lead to Von Willebrand disease, an unusual susceptibility to bleeding of the skin and mucous membranes. This tends to cause nosebleeds, menorrhagia (an abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period), and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Von Willebrand Factor is named after Dr. Erik Von Willebrand, a Finnish doctor who first discovered a hereditary bleeding disorder in 1924. Studying families from the Aland Islands who had a tendency for mucosal and cutaneous bleeding, including menorrhagia, lead him to the discovery. Although he was unable to identify a definitive cause, he was able to properly distinguished Von Willebrand Disease from other forms of bleeding disorders.

Ryan 'Dravis' Knowles is a self taught web developer and marketer who has been involved in several online projects since 2001. He's currently the webmaster of many different sites including VonWillebrands.com and has a 3 year old son with Von Willebrand disease.