Increased plasma concentration of von Willebrand factor in insulin dependent diabetics with incipient nephropathy

Abstract

According to the response to injury hypothesis, 'injury' to the endothelium is the initiating event in atherogenesis, and an increased plasma concentration of von Willebrand factor possibly reflects generalised endothelial cell injury. Moreover, increased release of this factor from endothelial cells provides opportunities for thrombosis. We therefore investigated whether diabetics with increased urinary albumin excretion had an increased plasma concentration of von Willebrand factor.