Significance of Plasma Thrombin-Antithrombin and Pasmin-III α 2-Plasmin Inhibitor Complexes in Diabetic Patients

Background: Abnormality of coagulation and fibrinolytic system is known as a predisposing factor of vascular complication in diabetes. Although the pathogenesis is not well known, non-enzymatic glycation reaction and the increase in production of free radicals due to an increased oxidative stress may be linked to the hypercoagulibility and hypofibrinolytic activity. As indices of abnormality in coagulation and firinolysis in peripheral blood, plasma thrombin-antithrombin complex III (TAT) and plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) were measured. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether hypercoagulability exists in diabetic patients with or without vascular complication. Methods: In our study, we measured plasma thrombin-antithrombin complex III (TAT) and plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) in 101 diabetic subjects and 20 controls. Comparing TAT and PIC levels in diabetic microvascular complication group, diabetic macrovascular complication group and controls, we examined correlation between risk factors associated with diabetic vascular complication. Results: 1. The group with diabetic vascular complication was older than group without complication. There was no significant difference in BMI, blood pressure,