The Relationship between Plasma PAI-1 Antigen Concent ration and Diabetic Retinopathy in NIDDM Patients

ABSTRACT

To examine the relationship between plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor-1[PAI-1]antigen concentration and diabetic retinopathy in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients, PAI-1 antigen levels and some fibri-nolytic parameters were studied in 89 non-insulin dependent diabetic patients[mean age 59.8 +/-11.3 years]and 25 normal adults as control[meanage 52.8 +/-14.7 years]. The diabetic patients were classified as three subgroups no DR[n=34], NPDR[n=29]and PDR[n=26]according to the degree of retinopathy.The PAI-1 antigen concentration was measured by enzyme immunoassay[Innotest PAI Ag kit].The diabetic patients had a significantly higher mean PAI-1 antigen level [34.56 +/-17.80ng/milliliter ]compared to a control group[20.35 +/-15.78 ng/milliliter ][p<0.05].Plasma PAI-1 antigen level was significantly lower in diabetic patients with PDR[27.39 +/-15.54 ng/milliliter ]than in diabetics with no DR[36.87 +/-23.31 ng /milliliter ]or NPDR[39.43 +/-2 0.17 ng/milliliter ][p<0.05], probably because of more extensive systemic endothelial damage. These results support the hypothesis that impaired fibrinolysis due to elevated PAI-1 is associated with the development of retinopathy, and therefore the levels of PAI-1 can be used as useful indicator for the development and progression of proliferative retinopathy.