Fibrinopeptide A: an indicator of increased thrombin activity in diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

To determine the role of Fibrinopeptide [FPA] in vascular complication in diabetics, it is estimated by a sensitive RIA technique in7 control subjects and 28 diabetics classified according to their line of treatment into IDD and NIDD who were further subdivided into those with vascular complications and those without vascular complications. Results showed that diabetics as a whole had a significantly higher mean values of both fasting and postprandial FPA compared to controls. A significant difference for fasting FPA was noticed between non complicated IDD and NIDD [P < .05], between complicated IDD and non complicated NIDD [P < 0.01] and between non complicated NIDD and complicated NIDD [P < 0.01]. Postprandial FPA was significantly higher in non complicated IDD, non complicated NIDD and complicated NIDD compared to controls [P > 0.05, P > 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively]. Uncomplicated diabetics had a significantly higher mean fasting FPA level [P < 0.05] compared to complicated but not regarding to postprandial FPA. Finally a significant positive correlation was observed between fasting FPA versus fasting blood glucose in non complicated NIDD [r = 0.85, P < 0.05] and complicated NIDD [r = 0.86, P < 0.05], also between postprandial FPA and both fasting FPA [r = 0.94, P < 0.01] and fasting blood glucose [r = 0.91, P < 0.01] in complicated NIDD. It may be concluded that elevated FPA level in diabetes is considered as a sensitive specific parameter of in vivo thrombin activation in diabetes [Hypercoagulable state]. This elevation is associated with diabetes more than being associated with vascular complication