Von Willebrand factor and mitral valve prolapse.
The levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF:Ag) were measured in 27 patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and compared to 27 age matched controls. Decreased levels of vWF:Ag (less than 80%) were found in 59% (16/27) of those with MVP compared to only 7% (2/27) of the controls (p less than 0.001). Mean vWF: Ag levels were also significantly lower in those with MVP (68 +/- 30% versus 100 +/- 23%, p less than 0.001). In those with MVP and congestive heart failure secondary to rupture chordae tendineae, however, the mean level of vWF: Ag was not significantly different from control values (95 +/- 32). There was an increased incidence of recurrent nose bleeds in those with MVP and low levels of vWF:Ag. We conclude that there is a relationship between MVP and low levels of vWF:Ag which may explain the increased incidence of epistaxis in such patients. Increased release of vWF:Ag in those with MVP and concomitant congestive heart failure may account for the normal levels found in this subgroup.
Froom
P
P
Institute of Hematology, Lady Davis Carmel Hospital, Haifa, Israel.
Margulis
T
T
Grenadier
E
E
Palant
A
A
David
M
M
Aghai
E
E
D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000097:blood*; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D000941:Antigens; C029417:Von Willebrand antigen; D014841:von Willebrand Factor