Plasma soluble fibrin monomer complexes in diabetic microangiopathy

We studied the relationship between plasma soluble fibrin monomer complexes (SFMC) and diabetic microangiopathy. SFMC concentrations were investigated in 7 patients with advanced retinopathy (group II) and in 10 patients with both retinopathy and proteinuria (group III), and also in 12 control patients (group I). The age of the patients in each group was similar and overnight fasting blood sugar levels were below 220 mg/dl. Group II had higher levels of SFMC (21.8-3.8 mg/dl) than group I (7.3-4.8 m/dl). Group III showed the higher value of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) than other groups and showed higher levels of SFMC (31.5-12.3 mg/dl) than group II. There was no significant correlation between the levels of SFMC and blood sugar, but positive correlation between BUN concentrations and SFMC was recognized in group III. Increasing of SFMC levels were correlated to fibrinogen (Fbg) levels in all subjects. There was no correlation between the levels of SFMC and antithrombin (AT-III) except in group II. The 24-h urinary protein was significantly correlative to SFMC, and Fbg was also considered to be closely associated with microangiopathy and act to promote it.