Acquired von Willebrand’s Syndrome in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

A boy is described with clinical and laboratory manifestations which were indistinguishable from von Willebrand’s disease. However, the relatively recent onset of symptoms, the negative family history, and the normal coagulation studies in both parents and six siblings led to the belief that the bleeding syndrome was acquired rather than inherited. The patient subsequently developed systemic lupus erythematosus following a smallpox vaccination. The findings of von Willebrand’s syndrome disappeared following corticosteroid therapy and did not return after cessation of therapy.