title: Associations of D-dimer and von Willebrand factor with atherosclerosis in Japanese and white men.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Ryoko W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kadowaki
authors.forename: Aiman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Saed
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ueshima
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sutton-Tyrrell
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edmundowicz
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Rhobert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadota
authors.forename: Lewis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Kuller
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takamiya
authors.forename: Sayaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kadowaki
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Curb
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sekikawa
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; C036309:fibrin fragment D; D014841:von Willebrand Factor
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