Objectives: Liver biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis of chronic liver diseases. Outpatient\npercutaneous biopsy is generally safe with a mortality rate of 0.17% and hospitalization rate\nfor bleeding of 3%. Von Willebrand disease (vWD) syndrome is the most common inherited hematological\ndisorder with a prevalence of 1% - 3% globally. We sought to study whether vWD increases\nthe risk of bleeding for liver biopsies. Methods: All patients (n = 120) who underwent\noutpatient percutaneous liver biopsies from 1997 to 2007 were analyzed. Demographics, PT/INR,\nplatelet count, vW antigen and ristocetin induced platelet aggregation were studied. Results: No\nvWD patients had major bleeding that required transfusion, hospitalization or surgery but 9 (75%)\nhad minor local bleeding and all had ecchymosis, which resolved spontaneously within 24 hours.\nConclusions: Patients with vW factor deficiency can undergo percutaneous liver biopsy without\nmajor bleeding. Minor bleeding may occur at a slightly higher rate. vWD is not a contraindication\nto percutaneous liver biopsy.
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