title: vWf levels as a circulating marker of endothelial dysfunction in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the von Willebrand factor levels, as a possible indicator of endothelial dysfunction, is increased in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and also whether it is related to the clinical status of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group comprised 29 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and 29 healthy age- and gender-matched control subjects. There was no significant difference in von Willebrand factor levels between study group (77.0 +/- 23.1%) and control group (88.5 +/- 34.2%). There was no statistically significant difference between control group (88.5 +/- 34.2%) and functional class I/II group (82.0 +/- 24.3%), between control group and functional class III group (67.6 +/- 18.3%) and between functional class I/II group and functional class III group with respect to the von Willebrand factor levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that von Willebrand factor levels, as a possible indicator of endothelial dysfunction, are not increased in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and von Willebrand factor levels are not related to functional class in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Isparta State Hospital, Suleyman Demirel University, Turkey. drercanvarol@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varol
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozaydin
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altinbas
authors.forename: Feridun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kosar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014841:von Willebrand Factor