[Diabetes mellitus and fibrinogen. Hemorrheological and microcirculatory consequences]

Fibrinogen level, erythrocyte aggregation and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2) were measured in the two populations of 32 healthy volunteer subjects and 119 diabetic patients without any clinical sign of micro and/or macroangiopathy. Measured parameters were studied according to both the long term glycemic control (HbA1C) and the type of diabetes. Results showed a significant elevation of plasma fibrinogen in all diabetic patients even when they had good glycemic control. Hyperfibrinogenemia appeared to be related to both long term glycemic control and type of diabetes. Hyperfibrinogenemia in studied diabetic patients was associated with a tendency to erythrocyte hyperaggregation. Indeed, this hyperaggregation like fibrinogen level, seem to be related to both HbA1C level and the type of diabetes. In contrast, the TcPO2 was found to be significantly decreased in all patients irrespective to either HbA1C or the type of diabetes. Besides, TcPO2 was not correlated with fibrinogen nor erythrocyte aggregation. In conclusion, the decrease in TcPO2 as observed here, does not directly depend upon the type of diabetes, or the HbA1C level, i.e the quality of mid and/or long term glycemic control.