Platelet Secretion Defects and Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome in Patients With Ventricular Assist Devices.

Background: The number of implanted ventricular assist devices (VADs) has increased significantly recently. Bleeding, the most frequent complication, cannot be solely attributed to anticoagulation therapy. Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) caused by increased shear stress is frequent in VAD patients and can increase the bleeding risk.

Acquired Von Willebrand syndrome in patients on long-term support with HeartMate II.

Objectives: Impaired binding of Von Willebrand factor (VWF) to platelets and to collagen due to acquired Von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) is associated with support from a ventricular assist device (VAD) and can contribute to bleeding tendencies in patients with VADs. The onset of AVWS has been shown to occur immediately after VAD implantation. Our aim was to determine long-term data on AVWS in VAD patients.

Early diagnosis of acquired von Willebrand Syndrome (AVWS) is elementary for clinical practice in patients treated with ECMO therapy.

Aims: Acquired Von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) is an acquired bleeding disorder that has been reported to aggravate bleeding complications in patients with ventricular assist devices or aortic stenosis. AVWS is characterized by the loss of the high-molecular-weight (HMW) multimers of Von Willebrand factor (VWF) with consequent impaired VWF binding to platelets and collagen. The aim of this study was to investigate the development of AVWS in patients treated with veno-venous ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) support.

Ossifying renal tumor of infancy.

A renal ossifying tumor of infancy is a rare event with few cases having been published, and the etiology has not yet been established. We report on two new cases of this unusual neoplasm. A 2-year-old boy presented with intermittent painless gross hematuria.