von Willebrand factor, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease

von Willebrand factor (VWF), a glycoprotein involved in arterial thrombus formation, is released into the circulation by secretion from endothelial cells. Plasma VWF levels are determined by genetic factors including ABO blood groups and VWF mutations, and by non‐genetic factors including aging, imp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis 2006-06, Vol.4 (6), p.1186-1193
Main Author: VISCHER, U. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Atherosclerosis - metabolism
Atherosclerosis - physiopathology
Biomarkers - blood
Biomarkers - metabolism
Cardiovascular Diseases - metabolism
coronary heart disease
Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism
Humans
plasma VWF levels
Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex - metabolism
risk factor
Risk Factors
Thrombosis - metabolism
Thrombosis - physiopathology
von Willebrand factor
von Willebrand Factor - metabolism
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Summary:von Willebrand factor (VWF), a glycoprotein involved in arterial thrombus formation, is released into the circulation by secretion from endothelial cells. Plasma VWF levels are determined by genetic factors including ABO blood groups and VWF mutations, and by non‐genetic factors including aging, impaired nitric oxide production, inflammation, free radical production and diabetes. Plasma VWF levels have been proposed as a risk factor for cardiovascular events. Although they are only weakly associated with the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in the general population, they are a more promising CHD risk factor in high‐risk populations with previous cardiovascular events, diabetes or old age. However, is it still unclear whether VWF levels directly determine the rate and severity of arterial thrombus formation or whether they merely reflect alteration in other endothelial functions. The future status of VWF levels as a cardiovascular risk factor depends on additional studies on the genetic determinants of both VWF levels and cardiovascular outcomes. Further studies on VWF levels as a predictor of the risk of stroke (rather than CHD) in elderly or other high‐risk population are also promising. Such studies could lead to the clinical use of plasma VWF levels to refine the estimation of the cardiovascular risk and of the expected benefit of antithrombotic agents.
ISSN:1538-7933
1538-7836
1538-7836
DOI:10.1111/j.1538-7836.2006.01949.x