Prognostic Value of Plasma von Willebrand Factor and Soluble P-Selectin as Indices of Endothelial Damage and Platelet Activation in 994 Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Among patients with AF who received aspirin, raised levels of vWf (endothelial damage/dysfunction) were predictive of stroke and vascular events, but raised sP-sel levels (platelet activation) were not associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Endothelial damage/dysfunction (or vWf itself) may play an important role in the mechanisms behind stroke and cardiovascular outcome among aspirin-treated AF patients and might represent a target for novel therapies or an adjunctive aid to risk stratification in AF.