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Hemostatic function tests associated with diabetic microangiopathy
Insights
Diabetics show higher blood clotting factors and lower clot breakdown, suggesting a link between thrombosis and diabetes complications. Further research is needed to confirm if this tendency causes microangiopathy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Hematology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of vascular complications.
- Hemostatic function may play a role in the development of these complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between thrombotic tendency and vascular complications in diabetic patients.
- To compare hemostatic function in diabetics with a control group.
Main Methods:
- Hemostatic function tests (factor VII, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, platelet adhesiveness, fibrinolytic activity) were performed on 154 diabetic patients (91 men, 63 women, aged 35-54).
- Results were compared with 1076 individuals from the Northwick Park Heart Study.
Main Results:
- Diabetic patients exhibited higher levels of factor VII, fibrinogen, antithrombin III, and platelet adhesiveness, alongside lower fibrinolytic activity compared to controls.
- Diabetics with retinopathy showed elevated factor VII and antithrombin III.
- Diabetics with proteinuria had higher factor VII, fibrinogen, and platelet adhesiveness.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a significant association between increased thrombotic tendency and microangiopathy in diabetes.
- Prospective studies are required to establish a causal relationship between these hemostatic changes and diabetic vascular complications.
Abstract:
To study the possible role of an increased thrombotic tendency in the vascular complications of diabetes, several tests of hemostatic function were carried out on 91 men and 63 women aged 35-54 years with diabetes and the results compared with findings of 683 men and 393 women of the same age in the Northwick Park Heart Study. Mean values for factor VII, fibrinogen, antithrombin III and platelet adhesiveness were higher in the diabetics, but mean fibrinolytic activity was lower, particularly in the noninsulin-dependent group. Diabetics with retinopathy had higher factor VII and antithrombin III values, and those with proteinuria had higher values for factor VII, fibrinogen and platelet adhesiveness than those without these complications. These findings suggest a potentially important association between a thrombotic tendency and microangiopathy in diabetics, but prospective studies are needed to clarify whether the association is a casual one.