Von Willebrand Factor (vWF)

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Overview

• vWF is a multimeric plasma protein present in blood plasma and platelets and produced in endothelium, megakaryocytic and subendothelial tissues¹
• Facilitates hemostasis by stabilizing coagulation factor VII (a clotting protein, helps in platelet adhesion) and recruiting platelets to injured vessel wall or thrombi through interaction with GPIb-α¹

Clinical significance

• Increase in vWF in the blood = indicator of endothelial injury¹

References

1.

Hassan MdI, Saxena A, Ahmad F. Structure and function of von Willebrand factor. Blood Coagulation & Fibrinolysis. 2012;23(1):11-22. doi:10.1097/MBC.0b013e32834cb35d