Table 4.

Assay principle and interpretation of available test results for the subclassification of VWD types

PrincipleInterpretation of results
VWF multimers Two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis followed by labeling and autoradiography • All sizes present: normal, type 1, 2M, 2N
• Absent: type 3
• Absence of large and intermediate forms: type 2A
• Absence of large forms: 2B 
Collagen binding (VWF:CB) Functional assay measuring the ability of VWF to bind collagen I and III • Decreased proportional to VWF:Ag in type 1
• Absent in type 3
• Low with decreased ratio to the VWF:Ag in type 2A and 2B
• Normal or decreased proportional to VWF:Ag 
Ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation Measures the ability of patient platelets to agglutinate in the presence of multiple concentrations of ristocetin • Present agglutination at low doses of ristocetin and increased at standard doses in type 2Ba 
Factor VIII binding (VWF:FVIIIB) Measures VWF activity to bind FVIII •Low in type 2N 
PrincipleInterpretation of results
VWF multimers Two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis followed by labeling and autoradiography • All sizes present: normal, type 1, 2M, 2N
• Absent: type 3
• Absence of large and intermediate forms: type 2A
• Absence of large forms: 2B 
Collagen binding (VWF:CB) Functional assay measuring the ability of VWF to bind collagen I and III • Decreased proportional to VWF:Ag in type 1
• Absent in type 3
• Low with decreased ratio to the VWF:Ag in type 2A and 2B
• Normal or decreased proportional to VWF:Ag 
Ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation Measures the ability of patient platelets to agglutinate in the presence of multiple concentrations of ristocetin • Present agglutination at low doses of ristocetin and increased at standard doses in type 2Ba 
Factor VIII binding (VWF:FVIIIB) Measures VWF activity to bind FVIII •Low in type 2N 
a

Indistinguishable from platelet-type VWD caused by gain-of-function variants in GPIb.

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