Studies of the human factor VIII/von Willebrand factor protein. III. Qualitative defects in von Willebrand's disease

J Clin Invest. 1975 Oct;56(4):814-27. doi: 10.1172/JCI108160.

Abstract

The Factor VIII/von Willebrand factor protein was characterized in two unrelated patients with von Willebrand's disease in whom procoagulant and Factor VIII/von Willebrand factor antigen levels were normal. In both patients evidence of an abnormal protein was observed on crossed antigen-antibody electrophoresis. In one patient the Factor VIII/von Willebrand factor protein eluted from Sepharose 4B in a position and distribution identical to normal with normal levels of procoagulant activity and antigen. However, the partially purified Factor VIII/von Willebrand factor protein had markedly reduced von Willebrand factor activity in a ristocetin assay. In the second patient the peak of Factor VIII/von Willebrand factor protein, antigen, and procoagulant activity eluted from a Sepharose 4B column with an estimated molecular weight of approximately half that of normal. This protein had no von Willebrand factor activity. In both patients the reduced Factor VIII/von Willebrand factor protein subunit was indistinguishable from normal on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These studies indicate that in some patients with von Willebrand's disease there is a qualitative defect of the Factor VII/von Willebrand factor protein; the total amount of protein, antigen, and procoagulant activity are normal while the von Willebrand factor activity is deficient.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens
  • Blood Coagulation Tests
  • Chemical Precipitation
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Chymotrypsin
  • Coagulation Protein Disorders*
  • Counterimmunoelectrophoresis
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Female
  • Fibrinogen / metabolism
  • Hemophilia A / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Platelet Adhesiveness
  • Platelet Aggregation / drug effects
  • Ristocetin / pharmacology
  • von Willebrand Diseases* / blood*
  • von Willebrand Diseases* / genetics

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens
  • Ristocetin
  • Fibrinogen
  • Chymotrypsin