Background: von Willebrand factor is a blood glycoprotein that is required for normal hemostasis. Its level can be increased by endothelial cell damage.
Hypothesis: von Willebrand factor is a suitable marker of endothelial dysfunction.
Methods: von Willebrand factor activity was determined by ELISA in patients with acute coronary syndromes, acute stroke and chronic vascular diseases, and was compared with the values of healthy controls.
Results: von Willebrand factor activity of patients in each group was significantly higher (P<0.001) than that of the control group. The values of patients with acute coronary syndrome and acute stroke were significantly higher (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) than those of patients with chronic vascular diseases. von Willebrand factor activity was significantly higher in patients with acute coronary syndrome and acute stroke (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) on the sixth day than on admission.
Conclusions: By measuring von Willebrand factor activity, a considerable, significant difference could be found between healthy people and chronic and acute vascular patients. The routine measurement of von Willebrand factor activity in vascular patients as an index of endothelial dysfunction may have clinical importance, because detection of this marker can be a noninvasive way of assisting diagnosis and indicating disease progression.
Keywords: Endothelial dysfunction; Marker; Vascular disorders; von Willebrand factor.