Fibrinolysis in patients with diabetic nephropathy determined by plasmin-alpha 2 plasmin inhibitor complexes in plasma.

Activation of fibrinolysis in patients with diabetic nephropathy was determined by the plasma levels of plasmin-alpha 2 plasmin inhibitor complexes (alpha 2PIC) using a one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Plasma levels of alpha 2PIC in diabetic patients with persistent proteinuria were significantly higher than those in diabetic patients without proteinuria, patients with chronic glomerulonephritis, and healthy adults. Plasma levels of alpha 2PIC in diabetic patients with intermittent proteinuria were also significantly higher than those of diabetic patients without proteinuria, patients with chronic glomerulonephritis, and healthy adults. Diabetic patients have been suggested to have a hypercoagulable state. The findings obtained from this study indicated that activation of fibrinolysis might counteract the hypercoagulable state in patients with diabetic nephropathy.