title: Activity of Von Willebrand factor and levels of VWF-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) in preterm and full term neonates.
abstract: Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) has a central role in primary hemostasis. Its biological activity is related to the size of VWF multimers, spontaneously binding to platelets and inducing circulating microthrombi formation. This process is down-regulated by the VWF cleaving protease ADAMTS13 (A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease with ThromboSpondin motif). To date, information regarding the levels of ADAMTS13 in neonates and preterm infants is scarce. Our aim was to study ADAMTS13, VWF antigen (Ag) and Ristocetin cofactor (RiCof) activity in neonates and evaluate potential correlations with perinatal complications. Our cohort consisted of 128 (48/128: born preterm) neonates, born in Sheba Medical Center and followed until hospital discharge. Control group consisted of 20 healthy adults. As expected, a significant elevation of VWF:Ag was observed in preterm and term infants compared to adults. VWF:Ag levels were highest in full term infants (Median 129.0 IQR 33.8) and lowest in adults (Median 119.0 IQR 58.5) (p<0.05), and RiCoF levels in neonates were higher than in adults. ADAMTS13 was significantly (p<0.05) higher in preterm babies in comparison to full term and adult controls. Neonates that underwent stressful conditions or experienced vascular complications such as IUGR, ROP, NEC, had lower levels of ADAMTS13 in our study. Further studies are required to validate and asses potential significance of these findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel. Electronic address: tzs145@mail.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elisha
authors.affiliation: National Hemophilia Center and Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ravid
authors.affiliation: National Hemophilia Center and Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.affiliation: National Hemophilia Center and Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lubetsky
authors.affiliation: National Hemophilia Center and Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levy-Mendelovich
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Morag
authors.affiliation: The Thrombosis and Hemostasis Unit at Schleswig-Holstein Campus of Lübeck and Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nowak Göttl
authors.affiliation: National Hemophilia Center and Institute of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel; Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, affiliated to Sackler Medical School, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kenet
mesh_terms: D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein; C099604:ADAMTS13 protein, human