Hemophilia A and B vs Von Willebrand Disease
Hemophilia A and B and Von Willebrand Disease are easy to mix up on the boards. Here's a side-by-side comparison — presentation, workup, imaging, and first-line treatment — drawn from our full outlines.
Hemophilia A and B vs Von Willebrand Disease at a glance
- Hemophilia A and B: X-linked recessive bleeding disorders from factor VIII (A) or factor IX (B) deficiency — joint and deep-tissue bleeding.
- Von Willebrand Disease: Most common inherited bleeding disorder — quantitative or qualitative defect in von Willebrand factor (vWF) causing mucocutaneous bleeding.
Keep comparing — start your free trial
You've used your 2 free previews. Create your free account to see the full Hemophilia A and B vs Von Willebrand Disease comparison — plus all 514 diagnosis outlines, 5,500+ board-style questions, and an AI tutor. Your 7-day free trial includes everything, no credit card required.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Hemophilia A and B | Von Willebrand Disease |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | X-linked recessive bleeding disorders from factor VIII (A) or factor IX (B) deficiency — joint and deep-tissue bleeding. | Most common inherited bleeding disorder — quantitative or qualitative defect in von Willebrand factor (vWF) causing mucocutaneous bleeding. |
| Classic presentation | Male infant with prolonged bleeding after circumcision; toddler with knee hemarthrosis after minor trauma; X-linked family history.; Hemarthrosis (joint… | Adolescent female with heavy menses, recurrent epistaxis, easy bruising, and a family history of bleeding.; Mucocutaneous bleeding: epistaxis (often… |
| Workup / key labs | Prolonged PTT correcting with mixing study + reduced factor VIII (hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B) with normal vWF. Family history and genetic… | Personal and/or family bleeding history + reduced vWF antigen and/or activity (typically <30 IU/dL; 30-50 IU/dL suggestive in symptomatic patients). Subtype… |
| Imaging | MRI for joint and muscle bleeding (more sensitive than X-ray for acute hemarthrosis); CT head urgently for any head trauma or neurologic symptoms; Ultrasound… | Echocardiogram if Heyde syndrome (acquired vWD + GI bleeding from angiodysplasia + severe AS) suspected; Endoscopy for unexplained GI bleeding (angiodysplasia) |
| First-line treatment | Acute bleeding: factor replacement — recombinant factor VIII for hemophilia A (e.g., octocog alfa, efmoroctocog alfa [extended half-life]), recombinant factor… | Desmopressin (DDAVP) — releases vWF and factor VIII from endothelial stores; first-line for type 1 and most type 2A; IV, intranasal, or SC; CONTRAINDICATED in… |
Drill Hemophilia A and B vs Von Willebrand Disease questions on FirstPassPA
Turn this comparison into retention. 5,500+ board-style questions with an AI tutor that explains every answer — free to start, no card required.
Start studying free → Try today's free questionEducational use only. This outline is a study aid for PA students and is not medical advice or a substitute for clinical judgment. FirstPassPA is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCCPA. PANCE® and PANRE® are registered trademarks of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.