Hemagglutination pattern of galactose specific lectin from Pedilanthus tithymaloides in diabetes mellitus.

The usefulness of a galactose specific lectin from P. tithymaloides was examined to study the hemagglutination pattern in 193 patients with diabetes mellitus out of which 34 cases were of insulin dependent. A control of 72 normal subjects was also included. The hemagglutination titre against a partially purified lectin from P. tithymaloides of control group ranged from 9.1 to 170 units per mg protein with a mean value of 54 units per mg protein. Significantly low titre was observed in the cases with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, while non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus cases did not show any significant change. Further significant reduction in the titre in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus group was shown to occur along with the increased duration of the diabetic condition, reflecting measurable erythrocyte surface alterations.