English

Noun

von Willebrand disease ‎(uncountable)

1. (medicine) An hereditary disease, characterized by a tendency to hemorrhage, and caused by a defect in blood platelet activity.
   • "This latter point is of concern given the high prevalence of von Willebrand disease (1 in 100 individuals) in the United States." - N. A. Goldenberg, L. Jacobson and M. J. Manco-Johnson. Brief Communication: Duration of Platelet Dysfunction after a 7-Day Course of Ibuprofen. Ann Intern Med 2005; 506-509.

Usage notes

Modern editors often prefer the non-possessive form of medical eponyms, rather than the older von Willebrand's disease.

Derived terms

• von Willebrand factor