Platelet von Willebrand factor: sweet resistance.

In this issue of Blood, McGrath et al show that the terminal glycan structures of platelet von Willebrand factor (VWF) are markedly different compared with such structures present on plasma VWF.1 Unexpectedly, these differences endow platelet VWF with a specific resistance against proteolysis by the VWF-cleaving protease ADAMTS13, thereby potentially increasing the hemostatic potential of platelet VWF during the formation of platelet-rich thrombi.