title: Influences of ABO blood group, age and gender on plasma coagulation factor VIII, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor and ADAMTS13 levels in a Chinese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  ABO blood group is a hereditary factor of plasma levels of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and von Willebrand factor (VWF). Age and gender have been shown to influence FVIII, VWF, fibrinogen (Fbg), and ADAMTS13 (A disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 13). We investigated the effects of ABO type, age, and gender on plasma levels of FVIII, Fbg, VWF, and ADAMTS13 in a Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 290 healthy volunteers were eligible for this study. ABO blood group was determined by indirect technique. FVIII:C and Fbg were measured by clotting assays. VWF antigen (VWF:Ag), collagen-binding activity (VWF:CBA), and ADAMTS13 antigen were assessed by ELISA, whereas VWF ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:Rcof) was performed by agglutination of platelets with ristocetin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean FVIII:C and VWF levels (VWF:Ag, VWF:CBA, and VWF:Rcof) were significantly higher in non-O than in O type subjects (p< 0.05 for all comparison). ADAMTS13 antigen decreased with increasing age, whereas the other parameters increased. Other than ADAMTS13 (p< 0.01), no gender-related variations were observed in the other parameters. Moreover, FVIII:C, Fbg, VWF:Ag, VWF:CBA, and VWF:Rcof showed significant and positive relationships with age (r= 0.421, 0.445, 0.410, 0.401, and 0.589, resp.; allp< 0.001), whereas a negative relationship was observed for ADAMTS13 antigen (r= 0.306;p= 0.006). Furthermore, FVIII:C were strongly correlated with VWF:Ag, VWF:CBA, and VWF:Rcof (r= 0.746,r= 0.746, andr= 0.576, resp.;p< 0.0001). VWF parameters were also strongly correlated with each other (r= 0.0.847 for VWF:Ag and VWF:CBA;r= 0.722 for VWF:Ag and VWF:Rcof;p< 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ABO blood group, age, and gender showed different effects on plasma levels of FVIII:C, Fbg, VWF:Ag, VWF:CBA, VWF:Rcof, and ADAMTS13 antigen. These new data on a Chinese population are quite helpful to compare with other ethnic groups.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Zongkui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Miaomiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Shengliang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Fengjuan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Fangzhao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Chengdu , Sichuan , China.
authors.forename: Changqing
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: ABO blood group; ADAMTS13; Age; Coagulation factor VIII; Fibrinogen; Gender; Von Willebrand factor