Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor in subjects with isolated impaired fasting glucose.

BACKGROUND

It has been shown that an increased von Willebrand factor level reflects endothelial dysfunction and may also have prognostic value in patients with atherosclerotic disease. Impaired fasting glucose is likely a frequent glycemic disorder in the general population and is considered a prediabetic state. Impaired fasting glucose is associated with cardiovascular disease, but it is unclear whether it is an independent risk factor because it commonly coexists with other cardiovascular risk factors present in metabolic syndrome. The present study was designed to evaluate the von Willebrand factor level in subjects with isolated impaired fasting glucose compared to healthy normoglycemic subjects.

MATERIAL/METHODS: We selected 48 subjects with isolated impaired fasting glucose and 48 normoglycemic control subjects matched for age, sex, and body mass index. We measured the von Willebrand factor level in all subjects.

RESULTS

The von Willebrand factor level was significantly higher in the isolated impaired fasting glucose group than in the control group (111.08%+/-52.78% vs 74.08%+/-48.47%) (P=0.001). The von Willebrand factor level was also positively correlated with fasting plasma glucose in the isolated impaired fasting glucose group (P=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that subjects with isolated impaired fasting glucose have higher von Willebrand factor levels, which suggests endothelial dysfunction.