TOTAL PLASMA ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY PREDICTS THROMBOSIS-PRONE STATUS INNIDDM PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE - To explore the hypothesis that a relationship exists betwe en free radical activity and abnormalities in hemostasis in NIDDM. RES EARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - The use of the total radical-frapping antio xidant parameter (TRAP) has very recently been proposed to explore the antioxidant properly of a plasma sample, taking into consideration kn own and unknown antioxidants present in the plasma and their mutual co operation. In the present study, TRAP, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A , uric acid, protein-bound SH (thiol) groups, fibrinogen, prothrombin fragments F1+2, and D-dimer have been evaluated in 46 NIDDM patients a nd 47 healthy matched control subjects. RESULTS - In NIDDM patients, T RAP vitamin A, SH groups, and uric acid were significantly reduced, wh ereas the level of vitamin E was significantly increased. Vitamin C wa s similar in the two groups. Fibrinogen, prothrombin fragment 1+2, and D-dimer were increased in diabetic patients. TRAP, but no single othe r antioxidant, had a strong inverse association with fibrinogen, proth rombin fragment 1+2, and D-dimer. CONCLUSIONS - These findings are con sistent with the hypothesis that oxidative stress may condition coagul ation activation in diabetes. However, the data suggest that it is the total antioxidant capacity rather than any single plasma antioxidant that is the most relevant parameter.