Coagulation activation in diabetes mellitus.

One hundred and fourty-eight insulin-dependent diabetic patients were available for this study; 56 males and 92 females. For the investigation of coagulation activation we determined activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and fibrinogen besides fibrin monomers and thrombin-antithrombin III complexes (TAT-III). We assessed large percentages of increased fibrinogen levels but non-significant increases of the mean values in comparison with the reference group. The values for thrombin time were significantly prolonged, although relatively small percentages were exceeding the reference range. For the activated partial thromboplastin time, the values exceeded the upper reference limit, and the mean values were significantly higher than those of the reference group. Also for the fibrin monomers we obtained often enhanced values, and moreover, the values were significantly higher as compared with the reference subjects. The amount of TAT-III concentrations above the reference range was much smaller than for the fibrin monomers and the TAT-III levels were not significantly enhanced. The results presented here are indicative of coagulation activation in diabetics, as indicated by the fibrin monomers and more or less by the TAT-III levels. Moreover, there could be demonstrated a positive correlation between fibrin monomer levels and HbA1 concentrations.