Acquired von willebrand syndrome and Wilms Tumor: Not always benign

Current literature suggests that acquired von Willebrand syndrome associated with Wilms tumor(AVWS-WT) occurs infrequently and usually has little clinical significance. Treatment strategies are thus poorly defined. We describe two patients with AVWS-WT and profuse bleeding who required intensive multimodal therapy, including aggressive blood component and factor replacement and plasmapheresis. They achieved adequate surgical hemo-stasis only after the renal vessels were ligated, with resolution of the coagulopathy upon tumor removal. Our experience suggests that AVWS-WT is not always benign. A careful bleeding history should always be obtained in patients with suspected renal tumors for consideration of pre-operative screening for AVWS.