Factor VIII--related protein on vascular intima of patients with chronic renal failure and prolonged bleeding times.

To determine whether the prolonged bleeding time so common to chronic renal failure (CRF) was due to defective factor VIII-related activities, as in von Willebrand's disease, vascular-factor VIII-related protein was measured in patients with CRF. Factor VIII-related protein was detected by immunofluorescence on the vascular intima of all 13 patients with CRF and greatly prolonged bleeding times. This protein was also present on the vascular intima of a patient with CRF and moderate von Willebrand's disease. These findings support a previous suggestion that the disturbed haemostasis in patients with CRF is not linked to defective factor VIII-related activities.