The Effect of Von Willebrand Disease on Pregnancy, Delivery, and Postpartum Period: A Retrospective Observational Study

<i>Background and Objectives</i> Several reports indicate that women with von Willebrand disease (VWD) are at an increased risk of bleeding and other complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of VWD on the course of pregnancy, chil...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mateja Sladič, Ivan Verdenik, Špela Smrkolj
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:Medicina
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/6/774
Description
Summary:<i>Background and Objectives</i> Several reports indicate that women with von Willebrand disease (VWD) are at an increased risk of bleeding and other complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of VWD on the course of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. <i>Materials and Methods</i> This was a retrospective study that compared many variables between women with VWD (<i>n</i> = 26) and women without VWD (<i>n</i> = 297,111) who gave birth between 2002 and 2016 in Slovenia. Data were obtained from the Slovenian National Perinatal Information System. <i>Results</i> Women with VWD were not more likely to have a miscarriage, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, anemia, intrauterine growth restriction, or imminent premature labor. However, women with VWD were more likely to experience childbirth trauma-related bleeding (OR, 10.7; 95% CI: 1.4, 78.9), primary postpartum hemorrhage (OR, 3.7; 95% CI: 0.9, 15.8), and require blood transfusion after childbirth (OR, 16.3; 95% CI: 2.2, 120.3). No cases of stillbirth or early neonatal death were observed in women with VWD. <i>Conclusion</i> Although women with VWD did not demonstrate an increased risk of vaginal bleeding during pregnancy or poor fetal outcomes, they had a higher risk of primary postpartum hemorrhage and requiring blood transfusion.
ISSN:1010-660X
1648-9144