Glossary

von Willebrand Factor (vWF)

vWF is a coagulation factor that acts to assist platelets in forming primary plugs in damaged blood vessels (among other functions). Blood banks supply vWF, when necessary, in cryoprecipitate or in fresh frozen plasma (CRYO is a more concentrated form of vWF, while FFP has more vWF in each bag). We don’t often transfuse to supply vWF in the U.S., however, as patients with von Willebrand Disease that require vWF supplementation can receive factor VIII concentrate that is virus deactivated and contains vWF.

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