Are VWD Clinical Trials Missing What Matters Most to Women? – RPTH
RPTH Journal shared on LinkedIn about a recent article by Meaghan O’Donnell et al, adding:
”Are we overlooking what matters most to women with von Willebrand disease?
Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is the most common and often the most severe bleeding symptom in women with von Willebrand disease (VWD).
Yet a review of interventional VWD prophylaxis trials found that menstrual outcomes remain strikingly underrepresented in study design and reporting.
Among 10 eligible clinical trials, only 2 (20%) incorporated menstrual-related inclusion criteria, while 4 (40%) specifically excluded treated menstrual bleeding from bleed eligibility criteria.
Although 80% of studies measured annualized bleeding rates, only 40% collected menstrual outcomes, highlighting a disconnect between trial endpoints and the experiences of many patients.
The authors argue that VWD trials have largely adopted outcome measures designed for hemophilia, rather than focusing on female-specific bleeding.
They call for future studies to incorporate menstrual outcomes, improve reporting of women of reproductive age, and ensure clinical trial design better reflects the needs of people living with VWD.”
Title: Menstrual outcomes are frequently overlooked in von Willebrand disease trials
Authors: Meaghan O’Donnell, Claire Kelly, Rezan Abdul Kadir, Roseline D’Oiron, Petra Elfvinge, Gaby Golan, Keith Gomez, Samantha C. Gouw, Laura Quintas, Karin P.M. van Galen, Michelle Lavin
Stay updated on all scientific advances with Hemostasis Today.
-
Sep 15, 2026, 12:13Brianna Nobles: The Human Side of Rare, Voices From BDC2026
-
Sep 15, 2026, 12:04Ifeanyichukwu Ifechidere: When Coagulation Becomes Critical in Obstetrics
-
Sep 15, 2026, 11:55Yadira Torres MAS: Predicting Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia in Children
-
Sep 15, 2026, 11:44Chokri Ben Lamine: Matching Anemia Treatment to the Myelofibrosis Patient
-
Sep 15, 2026, 11:17Adam Urato: How SSRIs May Affect Maternal and Fetal Serotonin
-
Sep 15, 2026, 11:05Sudhir Kumar: Maternal Anemia May Shape a Child’s Brain Development
-
Sep 15, 2026, 10:48Ashok Singhal: A Life-Changing Transplant Brings New Hope for Beta Thalassemia
-
Sep 15, 2026, 10:33Vera Ghali: Mitapivat Opens a New Chapter in Thalassemia Treatment
-
Sep 15, 2026, 10:13Behnood Bikdeli: Exploring the Role of Antiphospholipid Antibodies in Ischemic Stroke