von Willebrand factor in diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the qualitative nature of elevated levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) in diabetic microagiopathy.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled study.

SETTING

Oxford Health Authority, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

SUBJECTS

Insulin dependent diabetic patients with established retinopathy, and an age, sex matched control group.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Diabetic retinopathy, a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), used to distinguish between endothelial and plasma type vWF.

RESULTS

vWF is higher in patients with diabetic retinopathy mean (217u/dl) compared with normal subjects mean (8/u/dl). vWF in both patient and control are of the plasma type.

CONCLUSION

vWF in diabetic retinopathy is raised and of the plasma type, suggesting it is not due to acute vascular endothelial injury.