Technology allows for more precise measurement of von Willebrand factor activity
BY NANCY MANN JACKSON
The most common inherited bleeding disorder in the world, von Willebrand disease (VWD) has also been one of the most difficult to diagnose. But a new diagnostic test developed at BloodCenter of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, is providing more precise, reliable results than traditional tests, allowing doctors to better diagnose VWD and provide treatment earlier for people with the disorder. “By utilizing the new test, practicing hematologists can be more confident that the results accurately reflect the clinical scenario of the patient,” says Kenneth Friedman, MD, medical director at BloodCenter of Wisconsin and associate medical director of BloodCenter’s Comprehensive Center for Bleeding Disorders. “Confidence in diagnosis more efficiently guides treatment decisions. When treatments are applied more rapidly, the quality of life and outcome for a patient with VWD, and potentially their family, improves.”
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