ON THE VALUE OF MENORRHAGIA AS A PREDICTOR FOR COAGULATION DISORDERS

The value of menorrhagia as a predictor for mild bleeding disorders ha s been very little studied and the results are divergent. In the prese nt study on 30 women with objectively verified menorrhagia, we found a significantly increased prevalence of von Willebrand's disease (20%). By keeping a strict sampling and laboratory routine, and by restricti ng sampling to cycle days 5-7, we also obtained a very low interindivi dual variation of von Willebrand factor and coagulation factor VIII. W e conclude that menorrhagia is a valuable predictor for coagulation an d platelet disorders, and that time of sampling is of importance. This should be considered in the investigation of menorrhagia, and can be a guideline in looking for mild bleeding disorders. (C) 1996 Wiley-Lis s, Inc.