title: Type IIb von Willebrand disease: role of qualitative defects in atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify whether a hereditary bleeding tendency, such as von Willebrand disease (vWD) type IIB, protects against the onset of atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with vWD type IIB and 24 healthy controls, matched for common atherosclerotic risk factors. All patients were evaluated by color Doppler ultrasound of the common carotid, carotid bifurcation, common femoral artery, brachial artery, and abdominal aorta, investigating intima-media thickness (IMT) and presence of plaques in each arterial district. Flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery was used to test endothelial function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  vWD type IIB patients presented no significant difference in IMT in any arterial district. FMD showed no differences between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The quantitative clotting defect characteristic of vWD type IIB does not seem to protect against atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Medica II, Università di Padova, Padova, 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: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casonato
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertomoro
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petrobelli
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavraro
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campagnolo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girolami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014842:von Willebrand Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*