Do patients with haemophilia and von Willebrand disease with arterial hypertension have bleeding complications: a German single centre cohort

Abstract

Arterial hypertension is very common and occurs often in patients with haemophilia A (HA) and von Willebrand disease (VWD) due to their increased life expectancy. Bleeding complications in haemophilia and von Willebrand patients with hypertension so far are not well evaluated. Even data regarding the use of antihypertensive treatment in these patients are lacking. That is why we want to establish a register of the patients regarding the bleeding complications under arterial hypertension. The prevalence of arterial hypertension in our patients' population (n = 258 of >18 years, 121 men, 137 women) was as follow: 190 patients had VWD 1, eight VWD 2A, one VWD 2B, five VWD 3, 39 haemophilia A (two severe, one moderate, 36 mild). All patients (n = 258) had arterial hypertension because this was our issue. Certainly, patients even had more coronary risk factors. One important risk factor was hyperlipoproteinemia (n = 111). Nicotine abuse was rare (nine patients, 3.4%). Adipositas (78 ± 18 kg, range 37-164 kg, median BMI = 23.2 kg/m(2)) as well as obstructive sleep apnoea (two patients) were not common. Regarding the cohort, 57 patients with bleeding disorder and hypertension suffered from coronary artery disease. No major bleeding or ischemic complications were observed. Obviously, patients with haemophilia and VWD with arterial hypertension do not have an increased risk of bleeding. Adequate treatment is necessary. International registers with a larger number of patients can be useful.