RELATIONSHIP OF OXIDATIVE STRESS AND FIBRINOLYSIS IN DIABETES-MELLITUS

This study attempted to verify the existence of a relationship between oxidative stress documented by malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide d ismutase (SOD) and fibrinolysis analysed by tissue plasminogen activat or (tPA) and its inhibitor (PAI-1) in diabetes mellitus. Forty-seven p atients with Type 1 (n=27) and Type 2 (n=20) diabetes were examined to gether with 20 non-diabetic controls. The following were analysed: pla sma MDA concentration, SOD activity in erythrocytes, tPA activity and antigen, PAI-1 activity and antigen, fasting blood glucose fructosamin e, glycated haemoglobin (HbA(lc)), and urine albumin. SOD activity was decreased in patients with diabetes. This contrasted with an increase d plasma MDA concentration especially in Type 2 diabetes as compared w ith Type 1 or healthy persons (p <0.001). tPA activity was increased i n both groups of patients with diabetes as compared to healthy persons (p <0.001), PAI-1 activity was higher in Type 2 diabetes with vascula r changes than in the remaining subgroups (p <0.001). Multivariate ana lysis revealed a significant positive relationship between plasma MDA concentrations and PAI-1 antigen (r=0.53, p <0.001) and a negative rel ationship between SOD and tPA activities (r=0.53, p <0.01). We conclud e that oxidative stress may modulate fibrinolytic properties in diabet es mellitus.