title: Does hemophilia protect against atherosclerosis? A case-control study.
abstract: Whether carriers of hemophilia are protected against the development of atherosclerosis is controversial. In a case-control study, the presence of atherosclerosis was assessed and quantified with echo-color Doppler of all explorable arterial districts in 50 carriers of hemophilia and in 50 age-matched control individuals. All participants submitted to echo-color Doppler of carotid and femoral axis, of brachial arteries, and of the abdominal aorta. The presence and grade of atherosclerotic plaques were assessed, as well as the intima-media thickness (IMT). At least one atherosclerotic plaque was found in six cases (12.0%) versus 15 controls (30.0%); referring to the total number of plaques, 30% of them were evaluated in patients affected by decreased coagulation while 70% in subjects with normal levels of FVIII. In all the examined districts, the mean IMT was significantly lower in patients with hemophilia than in controls. Hemophilia protects against asymptomatic atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, 2nd Chair of Internal Medicine, University of Padua Medical School, Padua, Italy. franca.bilora@sanita.padova.it
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bilora
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zanon
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petrobelli
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavraro
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prandoni
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pagnan
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girolami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D005169:Factor VIII