von Willebrand factor and fibrinolytic variables are differently affected in the insulin resistance syndrome.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To test whether von Willebrand factor, a new cardiovascular risk factor, belongs to the group of risk factors forming part of the insulin resistance syndrome. DESIGN: A population-based, age-stratified, cross-sectional study. SETTING: A primary health care centre. SUBJECTS: All subjects aged 35, 45, 55, and 65 years in Norsjö municipality (n = 265) were invited, and 68% (82 males, 93 females) entered and completed the study. RESULTS: von Willebrand factor did not correlate with any measured lipid, anthropometric, or glucose metabolism variable. The higher levels of cardiovascular risk factors found in the subgroup of patients with electrocardiographical signs of ischaemic heart disease did not confound this result. CONCLUSION: von Willebrand factor plasma concentration is unrelated to the metabolic factors involved in the insulin resistance syndrome. Thus, it may be difficult to reduce elevated von Willebrand factor levels by conventional non-pharmacological cardiovascular high-risk intervention schemes.