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(Stroke. 2006;37:2672.)
© 2006 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

High von Willebrand Factor Levels Increase the Risk of First Ischemic Stroke

Influence of ADAMTS13, Inflammation, and Genetic Variability

Tamara N. Bongers, MSc; Moniek P.M. de Maat, PhD; Mary-Lou P.J. van Goor, MD, PhD; Vinod Bhagwanbali, MSc; Huub H.D.M. van Vliet, PhD; Encarna B. Gómez García, MD, PhD; Diederik W.J. Dippel, MD, PhD Frank W.G. Leebeek, MD, PhD

From the Departments of Hematology (T.N.B., M.P.M.d.M., V.B., H.H.D.M.v.V., E.B.G.C., F.W.G.L.) and Neurology (M.P.J.v.G., D.W.J.D.), Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Correspondence to T.N. Bongers, MSc, Erasmus University Medical Center, Department of Haematology, Dr Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE Rotterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail t.bongers{at}erasmusmc.nl

Background and Purpose— Elevated von Willebrand factor (vWF) concentrations are associated with an increased risk of ischemic heart disease. Several factors influence vWF antigen levels and activity, including blood group, genetic variability, acute-phase response, and proteolysis by A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease with ThromboSpondin motif (ADAMTS13), a determinant of proteolytic cleavage of vWF. We assessed how these factors affect the relation between vWF and the occurrence of stroke to understand the underlying mechanism.

Methods— In a case-control study of 124 first-ever ischemic stroke patients and 125 age- and sex-matched controls, we studied vWF antigen (vWF:Ag), vWF ristocetin cofactor activity (vWF:RCo), ADAMTS13 activity, the –1793C/G polymorphism in the vWF gene, and C-reactive protein.

Results— vWF antigen and activity levels were significantly higher in cases than in controls. The relative risk of ischemic stroke was highest in individuals in the upper quartile of vWF:Ag (odds ratio, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.4 to 7.5) and vWF:RCo (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% CI, 0.9 to 4.8) compared with individuals in the lowest quartiles. In individuals with ADAMTS13 in the lowest quartile, the relative risk of stroke was 1.7 (95% CI, 0.7 to 3.9) compared with the highest quartile. C-reactive protein, ADAMTS13, and genetic variation did not affect the association between vWF and the relative risk of stroke, whereas blood group did affect the association.

Conclusions— vWF antigen and activity are associated with the occurrence of acute ischemic stroke. This relation is unaffected by the severity of the acute-phase response or by genetic variation or degradation.

Key Words: ADAMTS13 • hemostasis • ischemic stroke • von Willebrand factor

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