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Introduction: Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder. However, recognition of the disease by both the public and healthcare professionals lags behind that of other bleeding disorders, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment for patients. Updated national guidelines are needed to highlight an appropriate pathway for managing VWD patients in a timelier manner. Aim: To identify ways in which care for VWD can be achieved on a more equitable basis. Methods: Using a modified Delphi approach, a panel of VWD experts developed 29 statements across five key themes. These were used to form an online survey that was distributed to healthcare professionals involved in VWD care across the UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI). Stopping criteria comprised 50 responses received, a 3‐month window for response (February—April 2022) and 90% of statements passing consensus threshold. Threshold for consensus for each statement was agreed at 75%. Results: A total of 66 responses were analysed with 29/29 statements achieving consensus of which 27 attained ≥90% agreement. From the high degree of consensus, eight recommendations were derived regarding how detection and management of VWD can be improved to provide equity of care between men and women. Conclusion: Implementation of these eight recommendations across the VWD pathway has the potential to raise the standard of care for patients in the UK and ROI by reducing delays to diagnosis and treatment initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, was committed to war. The independent Irish state, on the other hand, declared neutrality and introduced a particularly vigorous censorship regime designed to ensure that no comment or opinion emanating from its press could possibly be interpreted as contradictory to the state's neutrality. Historically Irish newspapers had largely relied on common, syndicated news agency material to report international events. Now, for the first time, they operated under two state-backed regimes with markedly different aims for presentation and comment on war news. This article reveals how the differing state-controlled mechanisms operating in Ireland affected the presentation and interpretation of news from common sources, particularly concentrating on the London-based Press Association, of the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940 and the Allied landings on D-Day in 1944. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information on the latest guideline released by the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organization on the diagnosis and management of patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD). It discusses the changes in the guideline, characterization of VWD, and recommendations for classification of VWD.

Background: Bleeding of unknown cause (BUC) and unclassified bleeding disorders (UBD) are increasingly recognized. There is no guidance on diagnosis and management., Objectives: To examine UK haemophilia centre registration patterns and current practice for UBD patients., Methods: In a two-step process, the UK National Haemophilia Database (NHD) was reviewed for registration patterns of UBD patients and a survey of UK haemophilia centers was conducted (January/February 2021) to capture current practice for diagnosis and management of patients with UBD., Results/discussion: Overall, registrations with the NHD for UBD patients has sharply risen from 2012 to 2020 and in 2019 accounted for 2.65% of registered patients. For the survey, the response rate was 52/67 (78%). Practice was widely variable; 35/52 (67%) centers register UBD; among these 35 centers, terminology included UBD (28 centers), undiagnosed bleeding disorder (four centers), and BUC (three centers); 34/52 (65%) centers use a formal bleeding assessment tool. For management of dental extraction and high bleeding risk surgery in a fictional UBD patient we found that tranexamic acid was widely used; however, beyond this a variety of hemostatic products were advised including blood products, recombinant factor VIIa/prothrombin complex concentrate, and desmopressin. There was general consensus (≈90%) on avoiding regional anesthesia in pregnancy, but no agreement on the need for fetal precautions to avoid bleeding at delivery (50% would advise these). There was a disparity of opinion on chemical thromboprophylaxis, and management of patients without prior hemostatic challenges and offspring of these patients., Conclusion: This study provides a snapshot of current practice and real-world data in this area. Future studies need to address the gaps in evidence., (© 2021 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.)