von Willebrand factor in diabetic retinopathy.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the qualitative nature of elevated levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) in diabetic microagiopathy.


METHODS
A randomized controlled study.


METHODS
Oxford Health Authority, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.


METHODS
Insulin dependent diabetic patients with established retinopathy, and an age, sex matched control group.


METHODS
Diabetic retinopathy, a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), used to distinguish between endothelial and plasma type vWF.


RESULTS
vWF is higher in patients with diabetic retinopathy mean (217u/dl) compared with normal subjects mean (8/u/dl). vWF in both patient and control are of the plasma type.


CONCLUSIONS
vWF in diabetic retinopathy is raised and of the plasma type, suggesting it is not due to acute vascular endothelial injury.
Abayomi
E A
EA
Department of Haematology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Miller
E
E
Paton
R C
RC
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D010949:Plasma; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis*
D014841:von Willebrand Factor