Type IIb von Willebrand disease: role of qualitative defects in atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction.
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.
Bilora
Franca
F
Clinica Medica II, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy. franca.bilora@sanita.padova.it
Zanon
Ezio
E
Casonato
Alessandra
A
Bertomoro
Antonella
A
Petrobelli
Francesco
F
Cavraro
Monica
M
Campagnolo
Enrico
E
Girolami
Antonio
A
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*