TY - JOUR T1 - Diagnostic value of Von Willebrand factor (VWF) in patients suffering from respiratory distress JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - 1686 AU - Rabab El Wahsh AU - Safaa Amin AU - Enas Essa Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/1686.abstract N2 - Introduction: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by an extensive alveolar capillary leak. Von Willebrand Factor antigen (VWF) is a macromolecular antigen that is considered as a marker of endothelial activation.Aim: To investigate the diagnostic value of VWF antigen in patients with ALI/ARDS caused by poisoning or non-poisoning etiology.Patients and methods: VWF antigen was measured in 52 patients with ALI/ARDS, 13 poisoned patients without ALI/ARDS and 20 control subjects.Results: There was a highly significant difference between VWF level in patients and control groups (P≤ 0.001). VWF level had a significant negative correlation with the ratio between PaO2 and FIO2 in patients with respiratory distress. There was a non significant difference in VWF level between poisoned and non- poisoned cases. There was a significant relationship between the level of VWF and the severity of poisoning in patients with respiratory distress. Among the poisoned patients, the highest level of VWF was in patients with anticholinesterase poisoning. The difference between VWF level in poisoned patients with ALI/ARDS and those without was highly significant. The level of VWF didn't affect patients' need for mechanical ventilation or their mortality. The cut –off value of VWF at 100% sensitivity and 20% specificity was 0.99 units, while the cut –off value of VWF at 100% specificity and 60% sensitivity was 1.87 units.Conclusion: VWF has a diagnostic value for ALI/ARDS but it does not differentiate between poisoning or non-poisoning etiology, nor does it predict outcome of the illness. VWF is significantly increased in patients with anticholinesterase poisoning. ER -