Correlation between changes induced by venous occlusion on factor VIII-von Willebrand factor components and fibrinolytic activity.

The effects of standardized venous occlusion (VO) on factor VIII-von Willebrand factor (F VIII-VWF) components (F VIII:C, F VIIIR:AG, F VIIIR:RCof) and on fibrinolytic activity were investigated in 45 healthy subjects, in 28 women on oral contraceptives, and in 78 patients with various chronic diseases (28 with peripheral arterial disease, 19 with liver cirrhosis, 13 with rheumatoid arthritis, and 18 with diabetes). All the three F VIII-VWF components showed highly significant increases, although not of the same magnitude, with consequent variations in the ratios between them. A significant activation of fibrinolysis was also demonstrated with both euglobulin lysis time (ELT) and diluted blood clot lysis time (DBCLT). A strong linear correlation between pre- and post-stasis values was recorded for all the F VIII-VWF components and for the two fibrinolysis tests. No significant relationship was, on the contrary, found between F VIII-VWF and fibrinolytic parameters.