Association of von Willebrand's disease with plasma cell dyscrasia and gastrointestinal angiodysplasia

A patient with acquired von Willebrand's disease (type I) had both plasma cell dyscrasia and angiodysplasia of the intestine. Based on examination of the components of F VIII/von Willebrand's factor (VWF) and the results obtained following the administration of cryoprecipitate and DDAVP (1-desamino-8-arginine-vasopressin), it was suggested that the production and release of VIII/VWF was normal and the rapid disappearance from the circulation was related to adsorption by abnormal cells in the bone marrow. The relation of acquired von Willebrand's disease, plasma cell dysplasia and angiodysplasia is discussed and the literature reviewed. Our patient is added to three previous reported cases of such an association of these three disorders.