Increased blood levels of platelet-activating factor in insulin-dependent diabetic patients with microalbuminuria

Background. Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a phospholipid mediator of in flammation, may induce an enhanced size- and charge-dependent glomerular pe rmeability in experimental animals. Studies on the role of PAF in enhanced glomerular permeability in the early phase of diabetic nephropathy are stil l lacking. Methods. We evaluated the intravascular levels of PAF and its main cataboli c enzyme, the PAF-specific plasma acetyl-hydrolase (PAF-AH), in basal condi tions and after exercise, in normo- or micro-albuminuric insulin-dependent diabetic (IDD) patients and in normal subjects. Results, The results obtained indicate that the concentration of PAF in who le blood was significantly enhanced in basal conditions, during and after e xercise in all microalbuminuric IDD patients, but not in normoalbuminuric I DD or in control subjects. The increased concentration of PAF did not corre late with changes in the activity of PAF-AH, suggesting an enhanced product ion rather than a decreased catabolism of PAF. Conclusions. These results indicate an association between increased produc tion of PAF and enhanced glomerular permeability in microalbuminuric IDD pa tients.