Independent association of von Willebrand factor with surrogate markers of atherosclerosis in middle‐aged asymptomatic subjects

Summary.  Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is considered a reliable marker of endothelial damage. Plasma levels of VWF were measured in 857 middle‐aged subjects (80.4% men) free of clinically overt atherosclerotic disease, in relation to cardiovascular risk factors, carotid intima‐media thickness (IMT) and microalbuminuria, two established surrogate markers of atherosclerosis. There was linear trend for the increase of VWF, carotid IMT (p < 0.001) and microalbuminuria (p = 0.018). The association between VEF and both markers remained statistically significant after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers (p < 0.01). In conclusion, VWF was independently associated with both structural and functional surrogates of atherosclerosis in asymptomatic subjects, thus representing a systemic biomarker of subclinical atherosclerosis.

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