Type 2 von Willebrand disease is characterized by what?

Type 2 von Willebrand disease is characterized by what?

• A. Defective von Willebrand factor
• B. Complete absence of vWF
• C. Increased production of vWF
• D. Normal vWF with platelet dysfunction

Answer: (A)

In von Willebrand disease, the issue is with von Willebrand factor, which helps platelets adhere to damaged blood vessels and also stabilizes factor VIII. Type 2 is a qualitative defect, meaning the factor is present but not functioning properly. So the problem isn’t that vWF is missing, but that what’s there is defective and cannot mediate normal platelet adhesion. Lab patterns often show normal or near-normal vWF antigen with reduced activity, and the abnormal function is what drives the bleeding tendency in this type. That’s why the description of defective von Willebrand factor best matches Type 2.

In von Willebrand disease, the issue is with von Willebrand factor, which helps platelets adhere to damaged blood vessels and also stabilizes factor VIII. Type 2 is a qualitative defect, meaning the factor is present but not functioning properly. So the problem isn’t that vWF is missing, but that what’s there is defective and cannot mediate normal platelet adhesion. Lab patterns often show normal or near-normal vWF antigen with reduced activity, and the abnormal function is what drives the bleeding tendency in this type. That’s why the description of defective von Willebrand factor best matches Type 2.