title: Independent association of von Willebrand factor with surrogate markers of atherosclerosis in middle-aged asymptomatic subjects.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Atherosclerosis Research, University Clinical, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. japaramo@unav.es
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Páramo
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Beloqui
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Colina
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Diez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orbe
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014841:von Willebrand Factor