Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Investigating von Willebrand Factor Pathophysiology Using a Flow Chamber Model of von Willebrand Factor-platelet String Formation
Published on: August 14, 2017
Potential biomarkers for vascular damage in Alzheimer's disease: thrombomodulin and von Willebrand factor
1Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Sihhiye, 06100, Ankara, Turkey. bbdogu@gmail.com
Objectives:
Evidence regarding the vascular basis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is growing. In vascular damage thrombomodulin tears of the cell wall and its level increases in the plasma. von Willebrand factor (vWF) is also thought to be a biomarker for vascular damage. The aim of this study was to examine the levels of vWF and thrombomodulin in AD as possible markers for vascular damage and to test their utility as an early biomarker in AD.
Design:
Case-control study.
Setting:
Geriatric medicine outpatient clinic of a university hospital.
Participants:
Twenty Alzheimer's disease patients free from vascular risk factors and 20 controls were enrolled in the study.
Measurements:
Thrombomodulin and VWF levels of 20 AD patients and 20 controls were analyzed by commercial kits.
Results:
Thrombomodulin levels were not different between Alzheimer's disease and control groups [median (range) = 4.25 (2.27-37.00) ng/ml in Alzheimer's disease and 3.55 (2.27-14.00) in control group, p=0.15]. Von Willebrand Factor antigen (%) levels were 188.5 (96-306) in Alzheimer's disease, and 181 (112- 284) in control group (p=0.74).
Conclusion:
Although vascular damage is thought to play role in the pathogenesis of AD, vWF and thrombomodulin failed to demonstrate the vascular damage in AD. Their utility to be used as early biomarkers of AD could not be shown.
Related Concept Videos
Dementia l: Introduction
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

