Which inherited condition is indicated by prolonged bleeding time and abnormal platelet adhesiveness?

Prepare for the AAB Medical Technologist (MT) Generalist Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations to boost your understanding. Get exam-ready now!

Von Willebrand disease is characterized by prolonged bleeding time and abnormal platelet adhesiveness. This condition involves a deficiency or dysfunction of von Willebrand factor (vWF), which plays a crucial role in platelet adhesion to the blood vessel wall, particularly in the formation of stable platelet plugs during hemostasis. The absence or malfunction of vWF leads to inadequate platelet adhesion, resulting in persistent bleeding episodes.

In patients with von Willebrand disease, bleeding can be prolonged because the platelets cannot adequately adhere to the site of vascular injury, thus preventing effective clot formation. The prolonged bleeding time is a key laboratory finding associated with this condition. Understanding the role of von Willebrand factor in platelet function helps clarify why this disease results in unique bleeding tendencies that differ from other bleeding disorders.

This contrasts with conditions such as hemophilia, which primarily affects the coagulation cascade rather than platelet function, or Bernard-Soulier syndrome, which is characterized by a defect in platelet aggregation rather than adhesiveness. Similarly, thrombocytopenia involves low platelet counts that can lead to bleeding but is not specifically related to the abnormal adhesion characteristics seen in von Willebrand disease.

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