Lupus anticoagulant positivity in insulin dependent diabetic patients: an additional risk factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy?

Aims-To investigate whether lupus anticoagulant (LA) positivity, a marker o f endothelial dysfunction, might be relevant to the pathogenesis of diabeti c retinopathy (DR). Methods-32 IDDM patients were examined for LA, fibrinogen, prothrombin (PT) , PTT, prothrombin degradation products (F1+2), and activated protein C (AP C). Results-APC decreased and F1+2 increased significantly in LA positive but n ot in LA negative patients; 60% of LA positive and 18% of LA negative subje cts had DR. PT, PTT, and fibrinogen levels were insignificant. Conclusion-These preliminary findings suggest that LA positivity could repr esent an additional risk factor for DR, acting as a link between the immuno logical and haemostatic systems.