Investigation of Von Willebrand disease in children with epistaxis and clinical practical approach

ABSTRACT

Background: The absence of a standardized approach to the disease and bleeding history can lead to unnecessary patient consultations and sometimes late diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate von Willebrand disease (VWD) in patients presenting with epistaxis with clinical practical approach.Methods: 63 Patients who were admitted to the pediatric hematology and oncology clinic between June 2017 and June 2018 with a complaint of epistaxis were evaluated. Patients diagnosed with VWD were classified as group 1, patients without VWD considered as group 2. The two groups were compared in terms of number of additional symptoms, and family history.Results: There was no difference in terms of age and gender when compared with 42 patients not considered as VWD (group 2), number of additional symptoms, and family history were significantly higher in the group considered as VWD.Conclusions: Excess number of additional bleeding symptoms, and bleeding history in family are of importance for the suspicion of diagnosis of VWD for physicians with limited experience in terms of bleeding disorders in primary and secondary health care institutions.