THE ASSOCIATION OF FIBRINOLYSIS AND HYPERLIPIDEMIA WITH QUANTITATIVE SENSORY TESTS IN AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF SWEDISH TYPE-1 DIABETIC-PATIENTS

Serum levels of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprote in Lp(a), and the fibrinolysis factors tPA (tissue plasminogen activat or) and PAI-1 activity (plasminogen activator inhibitor) were compared with sensory thresholds for vibration, electrical current perception, and pain in a population-based study comprising 239 patients with dia betes mellitus Type 1, aged 15-50 years. Univariate regression analyse s (n = 180) showed significant correlations between elevated sensory t hresholds and age, duration of diabetes, serum cholesterol and triglyc erides, and HbA(1c). In multivariate regression analysis, age, duratio n of diabetes, height, and serum triglycerides showed significant inde pendent associations with five or six of the six measured sensory thre shold variables. In addition there was a significant association betwe en increased thresholds for vibration and Lp(a) levels. Thus, increase d sensory thresholds for vibration, current perception, and pain in pa tients with Type 1 diabetes are associated with increased serum trigly ceride levels, and Lp(a) levels are associated with increased threshol d for vibration. Fibrinolytic activity is unrelated to these measures of nerve function in Type 1 diabetic patients.