Enhancement of immunoreactivity of von Willebrand factor in vascular endothelial cells of rat organs after glucocorticoid administration.

Our study showed that synthetic glucocorticoids are potent mediators of vWF-reactivity in rat fetal placental, liver and lung vascular elements. However, it is not yet possible to draw final conclusions from these results obtained only by immunohistochemical studies using antibody against vWF, since the mechanisms in factor VIII/vWF are highly complex. Further investigations for example with anti-vW AgII and measurements of blood vWF levels after treatment with synthetic glucocorticoids may deliver more insight into the mechanisms of action of these drugs. Investigations after treatment of pregnant rats with methylprednisolone might help, in addition, to find out whether the increased vWF-reactivity in caused by special substituents in the steran ring of the glucocorticoids.