Treatment of Acquired von Willebrand Disease due to Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Pediatric COVID-19 Patient with Vonicog Alfa: A Case Report and Literature Review

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Abstract

Acquired von Willebrand disease (aVWD) is frequently observed in patients with the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). aVWD can be treated by plasma-derived concentrates containing factor VIII (FVIII) and/or von Willebrand factor (VWF) and recombinant VWF concentrate as well as adjuvant therapies such as tranexamic acid and desmopressin. However, all of these therapeutic options possibly cause thromboembolism. Therefore, the optimal treatment remains uncertain. This report presents a case of a 16-year-old patient suffering from severe acute respiratory distress syndrome due to coronavirus disease 2019 with the need of ECMO support. Our patient developed aVWD under ECMO therapy characterized by loss of high-molecular-weight multimers (HMWM) and severe bleeding symptoms following endoscopic papillotomy due to sclerosing cholangitis. At the same time standard laboratory parameters showed hypercoagulability with increased fibrinogen level and platelet count. The patient was successfully treated with recombinant VWF concentrate (rVWF; vonicog alfa; Veyvondi) combined with topic tranexamic acid application and cortisone therapy. rVWF concentrate vonicog alfa is characterized by ultra-large multimers and absence of FVIII. Patient could be successfully weaned from ECMO support after 72 days. Multimer analysis 1 week after ECMO decannulation showed an adequate reappearance of HMWM.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e76-e81
JournalTH open : companion journal to thrombosis and haemostasis
Volume7
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-6741-4983/work/145224635
ORCID /0000-0001-8494-1403/work/145699008
PubMed 36846831
Mendeley 53911f73-d95c-3bb0-ba0b-6d30f9200502
unpaywall 10.1055/a-2008-4367

Keywords

Research priority areas of TU Dresden

DFG Classification of Subject Areas according to Review Boards

Subject groups, research areas, subject areas according to Destatis

Sustainable Development Goals