Changes of Von Willebrand factor concentration during pregnancy

The multimeric glycoprotein Von Willebrand factor (vWF), is produced by vascular endothelium and platelet. If some constitutionals deficiencies leading to hemorrhagic syndrome have been explored in the literature, increased production of vWF observed during cellular distress and pregnancy have not been explored in our milieu The aim of this study was to determine vWF changes during pregnancy in a group of Cameroonian women and find out the possibility of using it as a marker of fetal distress. Serum was collected from 46 women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The determination of vWF concentration was performed using the Asserachrom vWF reagent: Ag (Diagnostica Stago, France). The average concentrations of vWF in the second and third trimester samples Were respectively 215.47 +/- 9.38% (UI/dL) and 264.09 +/- 11.58% (UI/dL). The difference between (i) concentrations of vWF during the second and third trimester of pregnancy was statistically significant (P-value<0.0001); (ii) concentrations of vWF according to mother's ages was not significant; (iii) concentrations of vWF in blood group 0 and B women was statistically significant (P-value<0.05). We observed a difference between vWF values in women whose babies had Apgar score 4 to 6 compared to those with Apgar score between 7 and 10. The different was not statistically significant probably due to low effective. In conclusion, vWF production during the pregnancy varies with gestational age and maternal blood group. It may increases during fetal distress.