Hemophilia A, von Willebrand disease, and atherosclerosis of abdominal aorta and leg arteries: factor VIII and von Willebrand factor defects appear to protect abdominal aorta and leg arteries from atherosclerosis.
We hypothesized that patients with hemophilia or von Willebrand disease might be protected from atherosclerosis because of their coagulation defect. We studied 40 subjects affected by these two coagulation diseases using echocolor Doppler of the abdominal aorta and leg arteries, and compared the results with those obtained in 40 control patients who were homogenous with study patients in terms of sex, age, and risk factors for atherosclerosis. The probands presented a lower number of plaques than the 40 control subjects in the aorta and in the leg arteries. The most serious hemophilic patients had fewer plaques than controls or than patients with mild hemophilia. Both hemophilia and von Willebrand disease seem to protect against atherosclerosis.
Bilora
F
F
Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences, University of Padua Medical School, Italy.
Boccioletti
V
V
Zanon
E
E
Petrobelli
F
F
Girolami
A
A
D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D005169:Factor VIII