Changes in plasma lipid concentrations and some coagulation factor activities in insulin dependent diabetics with and without microalbuminuria

ABSTRACT

This work was carried out to determine the concentration of lipoproteins, apolipoproteins A and B, the clotting factors VII and VIII and antithrombin III in diabetic patients and to investigate the significance of the presence of microalbuminuria in this respect. Forty five insulin dependent diabetic patients of whom 21 were with and 24 were without microalbuminuria and 20 healthy controls, were included in the study. The serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, low density lipoproteins and apoprotein B were significantly higher while the serum HDL/ LDL and apoprotein A/ apoprotein B ratios were significantly lower in diabetic groups. The coagulation factors VII and VIII and antithrombin III were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in controls. The abnormalities in the lipid profile and the coagulation parameters were more marked in microalbuminuric than in normoalbuminuric patients. The work shows that insulin dependent diabetic patients suffer from hyperlipidaemic and hypercoagulability states which are more marked when microalbuminuria is present. These changes might be responsible for macro and microvascular disease with subsequent thromboembolic complications in diabetes. The presence of microalbuminuria should be considered an important warning sign and necessary medical care should start