Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a multimeric glycoprotein that plays important role in platelet-platelet and platelet-vessel hemostatic interactions. Plasma VWF also serves as a carrier protein for coagulation factor VIII, thus stabilizing its procoagulant activity. VWF antigen measurement assesses the mass of plasma VWF protein, but does not reflect VWF functions or platelet VWF. This assay is useful for diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD) and differentiation of VWD subtype (in conjunction with von Willebrand factor ristocetin cofactor activity and factor VIII coagulant activity), differentiation of VWD from hemophilia A (in conjunction with factor VIII coagulant assay), and monitoring therapeutic efficacy of treatment with desmopressin or VWF concentrates in patients with VWD.
25 Jul