Description: Von Willebrand’s disease (vWD) is the most common hereditary bleeding disorder in both dogs and humans. vWD is due to the partial or total absence of von Willebrand factor (vWF) or its dysfunction due to structural abnormality. von Willebrand factor is a multimeric plasma glycoprotein that plays a major role in hemostasis, in the body’s response to blood vessel damage and bleeding. The vWF protein is required for normal platelet adhesion at vascular injury sites and promotes platelet aggregation. In addition, it also stabilizes the blood clotting factor VIII (FVIII). Characteristic clinical signs of vWD are the incidence of prolonged and persistent bleeding even in areas of minor skin injuries, spontaneous bleeding from the nasal cavity, gut and gum, postoperative and post-traumatic injuries. Despite the importance of vWF in blood coagulation, the partial or total absence of vWF in the blood is not always lethal, just as vWD can remain unnoticed for years. Affected individuals may have mild, moderate, or severe bleeding since vWD is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disease. There are three types of von Willebrand’s disease in dogs and various mutations in the VWF gene are responsible for the quantitative and qualitative properties of vWF, which are the basis for dividing vWD into:
vWD type I – partial absence of vWF,
vWD type II – non-functional vWF,
vWD type III – complete absence of vWF.
von Willebrand’s disease type I (vWD I), which occurs in many dog breeds, is the most common form of vWD in most mammals. Type I vWD is characterized by a mild to moderate bleeding tendency due to the constant lack of otherwise fully functional plasma vWF in plasma, although generally less severe than in II. and III.
Inheritance: autosomal recessive
Mutation: c.7437G>A in exon 43 of vWF-gene
Sample: EDTA whole blood (1.0 ml) or 2 buccal brushes. For official purposes, the confirmation of the dog’s identity by Veterinarian is recommended.
The analysis is suitable for the following breeds: Australian Labradoodle, Barbet – French Water Dog, Basset hound, Bernese mountain dog, Brazilian Terrier, Cockapoo, Coton de Tulear, Dachshund (standard, mini, rabbit), Doberman pinscher, Drentsche Patrijschond, Dutch shepherd dog, German Pinscher, German Shepherd, Goldendoodle, Great Dane, Havanese (Bichon Havanese), Irish Red and White Setter, Irish Red Setter, Irish Setter, Keeshond, Kerry blue terrier, Kromfohrländer, Labradoodle, Manchester terrier, Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd, Miniature Schnauzer, Papillion, Phalene, Poodle (all variants), Prague Rattler, Rottweiler, Stabyhoun, Toy Spitz (Pomeranian), Welsh Corgi Pembroke, West Highland White Terrier
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