title: The application of vWF/ADAMTS13 in essential hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF), a key player in hemostasis and thrombosis, is released from endothelial cells during inflammation. Hypertension, a progressing in chronic inflammation and cardiovascular syndrome with various causes, results in functional and structural changes of heart and arterial vessels. However little information is available on LA changes during hypertension. Left atrial (LA) enlargement is associated with significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between LA enlargement and thromboembolic risk in essential hypertensive patients with Af without any signs of clinical thrombotic disease or previous stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relationship between Plasma vWF, ADAMTS13 and left atrial diameter (LAD), left atrial volume (LAV), left atrial volume index (LAVi) were evaluated in essential hypertensive group included 105 patients (55 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and 50 patients with normal sinus rhythm (NSR)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study demonstrated that vWF, vWF/ADAMT13, LAD, LAV and LAVi were increased significantly (P < 0.01) but ADAMTS13: Ag was decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in the hypertensive with AF group compared with NSR group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  vWF/ADAMTS13 were positively correlated with LAD, LAV and LAVi (P < 0.01). Increased vWF and vWF/ADAMTS13 is associated with LAD, LAV and LAVi in essential hypertension. The study suggests it played a positive role of vWF and vWF/ADAMTS13 in the progressing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in essential hypertensive patients with LA enlargement.
authors: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University Jinan 250033, China.
authors: Wei-Hong
authors: WH
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University Jinan 250033, China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Sheng
authors: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University Jinan 250033, China.
authors: Hui-Ping
authors: HP
authors: Gong
authors: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University Jinan 250033, China.
authors: Lin-Lin
authors: LL
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University Jinan 250033, China.
authors: Qing-Hua
authors: QH
authors: Lu
keywords: Echocardiography; essential hypertension; left atrium; vWF-ADAMTS13