Hypercoagulation in diabetes mellitus.

The pathogenesis of diabetic vascular disease is not completely known. Many authors have suggested that hemorheological disturbance is an important factor in the development of vascular complication. The hypercoagulable state also suggested to cause this complication. In order to assess the role of blood coagulation in diabetic patients, we investigated hypercoagulation in diabetic patients and its relation with duration of the disease, smoking habits, blood pressure, blood glucose, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic ulcers and patient treatment. A case control study was done to evaluate these factors in 60 diabetic patients in out-and in-patient clinics of the Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Dr M Jamil Padang, during December 1990-March 1991. The average age was 51.55 years, average duration of the disease 5, 8 years. Fibrinogen levels is higher in diabetic patient (mean +/- SD = 442.42 +/- 86.79 mg/dl), compared to normal person (mean +/- SD = 349.2 +/- 35.26 mg/dl), PT is shorter (mean +/- SD = 10.1 +/- 1.31 sec), compared to normal person (mean +/- SD = 11.04 +/- 0.93 sec), APTT is also shorter (mean +/- SD = 29.2 +/- 3.69 sec), compared to normal person (mean +/- SD = 32.16 +/- 3.77 sec). There was a significantly high fibrinogen and short PT and APTT in diabetic patients, especially those who suffered from diabetes for a long time and followed by chronic complications.