EFFECT OF PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATION AND ERYT HROCYTE AGGREGATION IN DIABETIC-PATIENTS

To better understand the abnormalities of red blood cell (RBC) hyperag gregation and elevation of fibrinogen during diabetes mellitus, we hav e studied the effect of plasminogen activation on RBC aggregation phen omenon. The plasminogen was activated in vitro by adding streptokinase in blood suspensions of 26 diabetic patients and 11 healthy subjects. RBC aggregation measurements were performed by means of the Sefam ery throaggregometer. Results show decreases in either RBC aggregation and fibrinogen level as a result of the plasminogen activation in blood s uspensions of healthy subjects. In blood suspensions of diabetic patie nts, although RBC aggregation and fibrinogen level are decreased follo wing the plasminogen activation, however decreases are less pronounced than those obtained in blood suspensions of healthy subjects. These r esults mean a decreased degradation of fibrinogen by plasmin in diabet es mellitus and could explain in part the excess of fibrinogen and so the hyperaggregation tendency of red blood cells (J Mal Vasc 1994; 19 : pages 190-194).