Heamoperitoneum caused by heamorrhagic corpus luteum in a patient with type 3 von Willebrand's disease

In female patients affected by congenital coagulation disorders heamorrhagic corpus luteum must be considered for the differential diagnosis of acute abdomen. We report the complication in a 22-year-old woman with type 3 von Willebrand's disease who presented with abdominal pain and heamorrhagic shock. Along with adequate factor VIII replacement therapy oral contraceptive treatment is the key for the management of this potentially life-threatening complication and the long-term prevention of future bleeding episodes of this origin.