<disease, haematology> A hereditary platelet disorder caused by defective or deficient Von Willebrand factor, a protein involved in normal blood clotting, that reduces adhesion to collagen but not aggregation. Both bleeding time and coagulation are increased. Factor VIII levels are secondarily reduced.
Symptoms include nosebleeds, bleeding gums, heavy menstrual bleeding, bruising and skin rashes.
Inheritance: autosomal dominant.
(30 Sep 1997)