CELLULAR ABNORMALITIES IN DIABETES-MELLITUS AS FACTORS IN VASCULAR COMPLICATIONS

Blood cell and vascular cell dysfunctions have been observed in diabet es mellitus. Platelet hyperaggregability, monocyte dysfunctions, eryth rocyte aggregability and adherence begin to be understood at the molec ular level. The smooth muscle cell proliferation and the increase in v ascular permeability could be related to cell-cell interactions or med iated via released factors such as cytokines or free radicals. A commo n but not exclusive explanation of these abnormalities could be non en zymatic glycosylation of lipids, proteins and cellular components.