Shimano H, Takahashi K, Kawakami M, Gotoda T, Harada K, Shimada M, Yazaki Y, Yamada N
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo University, Japan.
Clin Chim Acta. 1994 Mar;225(2):89-96. doi: 10.1016/0009-8981(94)90036-1.
Increased plasma levels of soluble thrombomodulin have been reported in several disorders as a marker for vascular endothelial damage. Serum and urinary thrombomodulin levels were measured in 79 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Both levels were significantly higher (23.5 +/- 6.1 ng/ml and 146.6 +/- 64.9 ng/ml, respectively) than those of normal healthy controls (18.8 +/- 3.1 ng/ml, P < 0.001, and 96.8 +/- 60.3 ng/ml, P < 0.01). Serum thrombomodulin levels increased in keeping with urinary albumin levels. In urine thrombomodulin was lower in the macroalbuminuria group than in the microalbuminuria group, suggesting two mechanisms: intravascular overproduction and impaired renal clearance. Both serum and urinary thrombomodulin levels in diabetic patients might be predictors for very early nephropathy.
