Haemostasiological parameters as risk factor for new arterial occlusions in diabetics

PARD is a prospective study sponsored by the German Research Council with the aim to establish if spontaneously enhanced platelet aggregation or changes of other hemostatic variables are risk factors for new vascular occlusions in diabetic patients. 363 diabetics (aged 45-65, 232 men, 131 women) have been observed for at least 5 years. Of the 232 men, 53 were on diet, 104 on oral antidiabetic agents and 75 on insulin. Of 131 women 16 were on diet, 46 on oral antidiabetic drugs and 69 on insulin. At entry a medical history was obtained and clinical examinations and laboratory tests were performed. Hemostatic tests and clinical examinations were repeated at 3 month's intervals. The life status was followed for all patients with the exception of 2. Until December 31, 1984, 42 patients had died, 23 from cardiovascular disease and 19 from other causes. 13 patients suffered a myocardial infarction, 11 a stroke and 53 a peripheral arterial occlusion. The occurrence of new vascular occlusions was significantly higher in men with enhanced spontaneous platelet aggregation measured by PAT III. This was not the case for women. Other hemostatic parameters with some relation to cardiovascular complications, again only in men, were fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor together with some established risk factors as triglycerides and hypertension.