von Willebrand Factor Propeptide: A Potential Disease Biomarker Not Affected by ABO Blood Groups.
Epidemiological studies have shown that vascular-related disorders are associated with high von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag) and VWF propeptide (VWFpp). VWFpp is secreted together with VWF:Ag upon endothelial cell activation, hence it could be a potential biomarker. This study was conducted to compare between VWF:Ag and VWFpp levels among 30 healthy individuals and 42 patients with high levels of VWF:Ag in different medical conditions and ABO blood groups. VWFpp levels were strongly correlated with VWF:Ag. VWF:Ag and VWFpp levels were significantly increased in patients compared to healthy individuals. VWFpp is not affected by ABO blood group in both healthy individual and patient groups unlike VWF:Ag. As expected, this study showed that VWFpp levels increased in parallel with VWF:Ag levels in patients with diseases associated with endothelial activation. VWFpp though nonspecific is a potential biomarker reflecting underlying pathophysiological changes in various medical conditions with an additional advantage of not being influenced by ABO blood groups.
Department of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Mahat
M
Marianor
Department of Haematology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Abdullah Wan
AW
Zaidah
Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Ch Che
ChC
Maraina
biomarker; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; von Willebrand factor