The 2021 von Willebrand disease guidelines: Clarity and controversy

Authors: Makris, M; Hermans, C.

Affiliations: Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; Sheffield Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK; Hemostasis and Thrombosis Unit, Division of Haematology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium.

Publication: Haemophilia; 2022; 28. 1–3

Abstract: Medicine is rapidly developing, and publications are produced at anenormous rate making it impossible for a single individual to remain up to date in all areas. As result, clinical guidelines utilizing all the evidence are now available in almost all areas of medicine. The Institute of Medicine defined clinical guidelines as “systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate healthcare for specific clinical circumstances. In 2021 the American Society for Haematology (ASH), the International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), the World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) and the National Haemophilia Foundation (NHF) collaborated to produce two guidelines on the diagnosis and management of von Willebrand disease (VWD). The published guidelines are comprehensive spanning 46 pages and were produced using the highest international standards with the process coordinated by a team from the University of Kansas. The target audience are clinicians, other health care professionals and patients.