Von Willebrand Factor Collagen-Binding Activity and Von Willebrand Factor-Mediated Platelet Adhesion in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

In this study, we investigated von Willebrand factor (VWF)-related parameters in 30 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and 50 patients without CAD. In both groups, the following were measured: the VWF antigen level (VWF:Ag); the VWF ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:RCo); the VWF collagen-binding activity (VWF:CB); and VWF-mediated platelet adhesion. Platelet adhesion was measured in whole blood at a shear rate of 1300 s−1 using a microfluidic chamber with a collagen-coated surface. VWF:Ag and VWF:RCo were found to be the same in both groups of patients. However, VWF:CB was found to be lower in patients with CAD compared with patients without CAD, with values of 106.7% (82.1; 131.6) and 160.4% (112.5; 218.1), respectively (p p p = 0.011) per 1% increase in VWF:CB activity, and 1.06 (95% CI, 1.03–1.09; p < 0.001) per 1% decrease in GPIb-mediated platelet adhesion. The findings presented in this paper indicate a possible critical role played by complex VWF–collagen-platelet interactions in the development of CAD.

Keywords

• von Willebrand factor
• collagen
• glycoprotein Ib
• platelet adhesion
• coronary artery disease