VON-WILLEBRAND-FACTOR, THE ENDOTHELIUM AND OBESITY

von Willebrand factor (vWf), risk factors for atherosclerosis, body ma ss index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured in 108 non-d iabetic patients attending lipid and vascular disease clinics and in 1 07 normal asymptomatic controls. High levels of vWf and increased BMI relative to controls were found in patients with hyperlipidaemia and v ascular disease, but WHR was higher only in patients with vascular dis ease. Total serum cholesterol concentration (P < 0.001), systolic bloo d pressure (P < 0.001), smoking (P < 0.02) and BMI (P < 0.001), but no t WHR, were associated with vWf. As raised levels of vWf are a probabl e indicator of endothelial damage in vascular disease, these data sugg est that obesity has an adverse influence on the endothelium and may h elp explain its link with cardiovascular disease.