We have demonstrated previously that fibrin enhanced plasmin formation by the vascular
plasminogen activator was significantly impaired, when components isolated from the
plasma of three uncontrolled diabetic patients (type I) were used to study plasminogen
activation in vitro. In the present study it can be demonstrated that functional properties
of the vascular plasminogen activators as well as of the plasminogens from the same
three diabetic patients are significantly improved after normalization of blood sugar
levels and improvement of HbAlc values. Most pronounced the Km of diabetic vascular plasminogen activator in the presence of fibrin returned to
normal values, and for diabetic plasminogen the prolonged lag period until maximal
plasmin formation occurred was shortened to almost control values. From these data
we conclude that the observed abnormalities of in vitro fibrinolysis are not primarily
associated with the diabetic disease, but might be secondary to metabolic disorders
caused by diabetes.
Keywords
Plasminogen activation - Diabetes - Enzyme kinetics - Tissue plasminogen activator
- Fibrinolysis
