Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor in the etiologic subtypes of ischemic stroke

Background: Compared with coronary artery disease, there are few studies on von Willebrand factor (VWF) in ischemic stroke (IS). Moreover, there is little information on VWF in the etiologic subtypes of IS.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate VWF in IS and in the etiologic subtypes of IS.

Patients/methods: The Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke (SAHLSIS) is a case-control study comprising 600 patients and 600 matched controls. Etiologic IS subtype was defined according to the TOAST criteria. Blood sampling was performed in the acute phase and after 3 months.

Results: The levels of VWF were increased in overall IS, at both time-points. The 3-month VWF levels were increased in the subtypes of large-vessel disease (LVD), cardioembolic (CE) stroke and cryptogenic stroke, but not in the subtype of small-vessel disease (SVD), as compared with the controls. The acute phase VWF levels were significantly increased in all four subtypes. In the multivariate regression analysis, with vascular risk factors as covariates, the 3-month VWF levels were associated with CE stroke and cryptogenic stroke, and the acute phase VWF levels with all subtypes. There were significant subtype-specific differences in VWF, with the highest levels in LVD and CE stroke.

Conclusions: The present results show that VWF levels are increased in patients with IS. Furthermore, the VWF levels differ between etiologic IS subtypes and thus, it is important to consider etiologic subtypes in future studies of VWF in patients with IS.