Lupus anticoagulant positivity in insulin dependent diabetic patients: an additional risk factor in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether lupus anticoagulant (LA) positivity, a marker of endothelial dysfunction, might be relevant to the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR).


METHODS
32 IDDM patients were examined for LA, fibrinogen, prothrombin (PT), PTT, prothrombin degradation products (F1+2), and activated protein C (APC).


RESULTS
APC decreased and F1+2 increased significantly in LA positive but not in LA negative patients; 60% of LA positive and 18% of LA negative subjects had DR. PT, PTT, and fibrinogen levels were insignificant.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary findings suggest that LA positivity could represent an additional risk factor for DR, acting as a link between the immunological and haemostatic systems.
Giusti
C
C
University "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy. crigiust@tin.it
Schiaffini
R
R
Bosco
D
D
Ciampalini
P
P
Pantaleo
A
A
Vingolo
E M
EM
Gargiulo
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors
D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011486:Protein C; D011516:Prothrombin