[Effect of von Willebrand factor and endothelin-1 on formation of thrombotic status in patients with ischemic heart disease].

In 44 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and 35 healthy subjects we studied cascade mechanism of platelets activation by von Willebrand factor (vWF), and interrelationship of platelet aggregation, level of vWF, and endothelial dysfunction. The latter was estimated by severity of vasoconstriction determined basing on endothelin-1 levels. Quantitative assessment of platelet aggregation revealed differences in aggregation capacity between healthy subjects and patients with IHD. Of particular importance was absence of spontaneous aggregation in healthy subjects. It was shown that in IHD patients influence of vWF resulted in augmentation and convergence of activating signal. Positive correlation was found in patients with IHD between elevation of levels of vWF, endothelin-1, and spontaneous and induced platelet aggregation activity. Interrelationship was revealed between character of IHD course and degree of elevation of the studied markers.