Independent association of von Willebrand factor with surrogate markers of atherosclerosis in middle-aged asymptomatic subjects.
Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is considered a reliable marker of endothelial damage. Plasma levels of VWF were measured in 857 middle-aged subjects (80.4% men) free of clinically overt atherosclerotic disease, in relation to cardiovascular risk factors, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and microalbuminuria, two established surrogate markers of atherosclerosis. There was linear trend for the increase of VWF, carotid IMT (p < 0.001) and microalbuminuria (p = 0.018). The association between VEF and both markers remained statistically significant after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers (p < 0.01). In conclusion, VWF was independently associated with both structural and functional surrogates of atherosclerosis in asymptomatic subjects, thus representing a systemic biomarker of subclinical atherosclerosis.
Páramo
J A
JA
Atherosclerosis Research, University Clinical, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. japaramo@unav.es
Beloqui
O
O
Colina
I
I
Diez
J
J
Orbe
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000378:metabolism; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014841:von Willebrand Factor