Patients who exhibit a prolonged mucocutaneous bleeding time with a normal coagulation time, clot retraction, and platelet count and have reduced levels of the coagulation factor VIII have a deficiency in which protein involved in hemostasis?

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Patients with these symptoms likely have von Willebrand disease, characterized by a deficiency or dysfunction of von Willebrand factor, which is crucial for platelet adhesion and stabilization of factor VIII.  von Willebrand disease (vWD) results from defects in von Willebrand factor (vWF). The disorder is characterized by bleeding from mucocutaneous sites (typical skin and mucous membranes) rather than from deep tissues and joints. vWF is involved in 2 important reactions of blood coagulation, one of which is to bind to and stabilize factor VIII allowing factor VIII to survive in the blood. Deficiencies in vWF can, therefore, result in deficiencies in factor VIII.

Patients Who Exhibit a Prolonged Mucocutaneous Bleeding Time with a Normal