[Plasminogen activation and erythrocyte aggregation in diabetic patients]

To better understand the abnormalities of red blood cell (RBC) hyperaggregation and elevation of fibrinogen during diabetes mellitus, we have studied the effect of plasminogen activation on RBC aggregation phenomenon. The plasminogen was activated in vitro by adding streptokinase in blood suspensions of 26 diabetic patients and 11 healthy subjects. RBC aggregation measurements were performed by means of the Sefam erythroaggregometer. Results show decreases in either RBC aggregation and fibrinogen level as a result of the plasminogen activation in blood suspensions of healthy subjects. In blood suspensions of diabetic patients, although RBC aggregation and fibrinogen level are decreased following the plasminogen activation, however decreases are less pronounced than those obtained in blood suspensions of healthy subjects. These results mean a decreased degradation of fibrinogen by plasmin in diabetes mellitus and could explain in part the excess of fibrinogen and so the hyperaggregation tendency of red blood cells.