Associations of D-dimer and von Willebrand factor with atherosclerosis in Japanese and white men.
OBJECTIVE
D-dimer and von Willebrand factor (vWF) are associated with atherosclerosis. We recently reported that in a post-World War II birth cohort, Japanese men in Japan had lower levels of atherosclerosis than white men in the United States (U.S.). We examined whether the differences in D-dimer and vWF levels are associated with differences in atherosclerosis between the two populations.


RESULTS
Population-based samples of 99 Japanese and 100 white American men aged 40-49 years were examined for coronary artery calcification (CAC), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), D-dimer, vWF, and other factors using a standardized protocol. When compared to white American men,Japanese had similar levels of D-dimer (0.22 +/- 0.28 vs. 0.19 +/- 0.24 microg/L, respectively, P = 0.39) but significantly higher levels of vWF (124.1 +/- 36.6 vs. 91.3 +/- 48.8%, respectively, P < 0.01). Japanese as compared to white American men had significantly lower prevalence of CAC (13.1 vs. 28.0%, P < 0.01, respectively) and significantly lower IMT (0.61 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.66 +/- 0.08 mm, P < 0.01, respectively). Japanese men had a significant positive association of D-dimer with the prevalence of CAC and a negative association of vWF with IMT, whereas white American men did not have any significant associations.


CONCLUSIONS
In men aged 40-49 years, Japanese as compared to white Americans had similar levels of D-dimer and higher levels of vWF although Japanese had a significantly lower prevalence of CAC and IMT. These haemostatic factors are unlikely to explain the difference in atherosclerosis in these populations.
Azuma
Ryoko W
RW
Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Kadowaki
Takashi
T
El-Saed
Aiman
A
Ueshima
Hirotsugu
H
Sutton-Tyrrell
Kim
K
Nakamura
Yasuyuki
Y
Edmundowicz
Daniel
D
Ueno
Yoshiki
Y
Evans
Rhobert W
RW
Kadota
Aya
A
Kuller
Lewis H
LH
Murata
Kiyoshi
K
Takamiya
Tomoko
T
Kadowaki
Sayaka
S
Curb
J David
JD
Sekikawa
Akira
A
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D014841:von Willebrand Factor
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