Factor VIII and Von Willebrand factor

Coagulation factor VIII and Von Willebrand factor are essential for coagulation and platelet aggregation. In a meta-analysis including data from 45,289 patients, researchers here identified genetic associations between circulating levels of these two factors. They studied three genes causally involved in the release of factor VIII from human liver endothelial cells and Von Willebrand factor from human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Using whole-genome sequencing analyses, the researchers identified new loci involved in the release of these two coagulation factors. They also assessed their impact on the risk of thrombotic events.