Clinical role of von Willebrand factor in acute ischemic stroke

An elevated level of von Willebrand factor (VWF) is associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke. The objective of the study was to determine whether the level of VWF is associated with the cardioembolic subtype of ischemic stroke, stroke severity, and clinical outcome.

In this study 108 patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke (AIS) were included. According to the etiology of the stroke, patients were classified into the subtype of cardioembolic (CE) stroke and the group with non-CE stroke. Patients with non-CE stroke were further classified into subtype of large vessel disease, subtype of small vessel disease and subtype of cryptogenic stroke. Laboratory tests were performed in the acute phase and VWF was determined for all patients. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was applied on admission and the modified Rankin scale (MRS) at discharge.

The only significant factor which predicted CE stroke was age (B = 0.077; standard error, SE = 0.026; P = 0.003). The level of VWF was not significantly higher in the group with the cardioembolic stroke compared to the group with non-CE stroke. Patients assessed by NIHSS on admission as the most disabled had significantly higher levels of VWF (B = 0.006; SE = 0.003; P = 0.045). Those with higher scores of MRS at discharge also had significantly increased levels of VWF (B = 0.006; SE = 0.003; P = 0.028).

Among the patients with ischemic stroke, levels of VWF were not increased in those with CE stroke. High levels of VWF were associated with greater severity of stroke as well as with poor clinical outcome.