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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
09:33

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology

Published on: February 7, 2015

An association between clotting factor VII and carotid intima-media thickness: the CARDIA study

David Green1, Nancy Foiles, Cheeling Chan

  • 1Division of Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill, USA. d-green@northwestern.edu

Stroke
|May 15, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Factor VII (FVII) is linked to common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in young adults, indicating a potential association with atherosclerosis. Factor VIII (FVIII) showed some associations, while von Willebrand factor did not correlate with subclinical atherosclerosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Hematology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Subclinical atherosclerosis is a precursor to cardiovascular events.
  • Procoagulants, including factor VII (FVII), factor VIII (FVIII), and von Willebrand factor, play a role in hemostasis.
  • The relationship between these procoagulants and early signs of atherosclerosis is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between levels of FVII, FVIII, and von Willebrand factor and subclinical atherosclerosis.
  • To examine these associations in young adults participating in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

Main Methods:

  • Clotting factor levels (FVII, FVIII, von Willebrand factor) were measured in 1254 participants aged 23-37 at baseline and again at ages 38-50.
  • Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a marker of atherosclerosis, was measured at follow-up.
  • Statistical analyses included age and multivariable adjustments to assess associations.

Main Results:

  • Higher baseline levels of FVII were associated with increased common carotid IMT, particularly in white participants and men.
  • While multivariable adjustments attenuated some associations, elevated FVII levels at baseline or follow-up remained linked to greater common carotid IMT.
  • Factor VIII showed associations with internal carotid IMT in age-adjusted analyses, but these did not persist after multivariable adjustment. No significant associations were found for von Willebrand factor.

Conclusions:

  • Factor VII is associated with common carotid IMT in young adults, suggesting a role in early atherosclerosis.
  • The association between FVII and IMT is influenced by other cardiovascular risk factors, such as body mass index.
  • Factor VIII's association with IMT was limited to age-adjusted models, and von Willebrand factor showed no significant link to subclinical atherosclerosis in this cohort.
Abstract

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