Factor VIII deficiency does not protect against atherosclerosis

Summary. Background: Hemophilia A patients have a lower cardiovascular mortality rate than the general population. Whether this protection is caused by hypocoagulability or decreased atherogenesis is unclear. Objectives: To evaluate atherosclerosis and endothelial function in hemophilia A patients with and without obesity as well as in matched, unaffected controls. Methods: Fifty-one obese (body mass index [BMI]≥30kgm-2) and 47 non-obese (BMI≤25kgm-2) hemophilia A patients, and 42 obese and 50 matched non-obese male controls were included. Carotid and femoral intima-media thickness [IMT] and brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) were measured as markers of atherogenesis and endothelial function. Results: The overall population age was 50±13 years. Carotid IMT was increased in obese subjects (0.77±0.22mm) as compared with non-obese subjects (0.69±0.16mm) [mean difference 0.07mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02-0.13, P=0.008)]. No differences in mean carotid and femoral IMT between obese hemophilic patients and obese controls were found (mean difference of 0.02mm [95% CI -0.07-0.11, P=0.67], and mean difference of 0.06mm [95% CI -0.13-0.25, P=0.55], respectively). Thirty-five per cent of the obese hemophilic patients and 29% of the obese controls had an atherosclerotic plaque (P=0.49), irrespective of the severity of hemophilia. Brachial FMD was comparable between obese hemophilic patients and obese controls (4.84%±3.24% and 5.32%±2.37%, P=0.45). Conclusion: Hemophilia A patients with obesity develop atherosclerosis to a similar extent as the general male population. Detection and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in hemophilic patients is equally necessary.

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