Acquired von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a rare bleeding disorder marked by the same biological anomalies as those seen in hereditary von Willebrand disease (VWD) but which occurs in association with another underlying pathology, generally in elderly patients without any personal or family history of bleeding anomalies. There are three principle pathogenic mechanisms described which are firstly the presence of autoantibodies (inhibiting or noninhibiting) that form immune complexes with the von Willebrand factor (VWF) leading to rapid clearance of VWF from the circulation. Secondly, absorption of VWF onto malignant cell clones and thirdly the increased proteolysis of high molecular weight VWF multimers under abnormal blood conditions caused by cardiovascular malformations (such as aortic valve stenosis). [from SNOMEDCT_US]

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