Haemostatic variables, serum lipid abnormalities and vascular complications in diabetes mellitus: a 5 year follow-up study.

The relationship among blood lipids, haemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters have been evaluated, during a follow-up study, in 27 non-insulin dependent (type II) diabetic patients. Upon recruitment, and in periodical controls, we observed that plasma triglycerides and VLDL levels correlated inversely, and HDL directly, with the fibrinolytic activity of plasma and euglobulin precipitate. Furthermore triglycerides and VLDL correlated directly with Factor VIII antigen (vWFAg). After 5 years in the study, 12 patients (44%) had macroangiopathic complications, and 9 of these subjects showed persistently high levels of triglycerides (above 2.36 mmol/l). These haemostatic and lipid components, however, do not influence the progression of diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. The alterations of lipid, haemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters and their possible relationships seem to play an important role in the occurrence of diabetic macroangiopathy.