Diabetes, Vol 34, Issue 9 836-843, Copyright © 1985 by American Diabetes Association
Fibrinopeptide-A in diabetes mellitus. Relation to levels of blood glucose, fibrinogen disappearance, and hemodynamic changes
RL Jones
Plasma and urine fibrinopeptide-A (FPA) levels were investigated in type I
and II diabetic patients. Plasma FPA and 24-h urinary excretion of FPA were
significantly elevated in diabetic patients compared with normal
volunteers, indicating augmented thrombin activity in diabetes. Plasma and
urine FPA did not differ between type I and type II diabetic subjects.
Comparison of plasma FPA with blood glucose and hemoglobin A1 (HbA1)
indicated that elevation of FPA is rapidly reversible and intermittent
during hypo- and hyperglycemia. Although elevated plasma FPA was seen in
patients of short as well as long duration of diabetes, plasma and urine
FPA correlated with duration of diabetes in type I patients. In type I
diabetic patients with vascular complications, hyperglycemia induced by an
oral glucose challenge was accompanied by elevation of plasma FPA and
acceleration of fibrinogen disappearance. These responses were not seen
when the patients were treated with intravenous (i.v.) heparin before the
glucose challenge. In patients without vascular complications, there was
also an acceleration of fibrinogen disappearance and a marginal (not
statistically significant) elevation of plasma FPA seen after the FPA
response observed in vascular disease patients. In all patients, induced
hyperglycemia resulted in a decrease in hematocrit and hemoglobin (blood
volume expansion) and an increase in pulse pressure indicating hemodynamic
changes. The association of hyperglycemia and hemodynamic changes with
augmented thrombin activity is consistent with a mechanism for fibrin
formation and deposition based on endothelial injury and/or increased
vascular permeability. Fibrin deposition due to such a mechanism may
participate in the development of the vascular complications of diabetes.