Evaluation of Plasma Protein C Antigen, Protein C Activity and Thrombomodulin Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

The imbalance between coagulation and fibrinolysis leads to vascular complications in diabetics. In our study, we have investigated the effects of the protein C-thrombomodulin system as a cause of diabetic vascular complications. Whereas PC-Ag levels were lower, thrombomodulin (TM) levels of diabetics were higher than that of the controls (P 0.001, P 0.001 respectively). Furthermore, patients were divided into three groups according to their urinary albumin excretion (UAE). Group 1, 2 and 3 consisted of 27 patients with UAC £ 30 µg/ml, 16 patients with UAC in range 30-140 µg/ml, 3 patients with UAC 140 µg/ml, respectively. Plasma PC-Ag levels were significantly decreased in group 1 and 2 with respect to controls (P 0.01, P 0.01). Plasma TM concentrations were significantly increased in group 1, 2 and 3 compared with the control group (P 0.001, P 0.01, P 0.01). Patients were also divided into two groups according to the duration of their illness; patients whose diabetic age 10 years (Group A) and whose diabetic age 10 years (Group B). In both groups, PC-Ag levels were lower and TM levels higher than that of the control group (P 0.01, P 0.01; P 0.001, P 0.001 respectively). There was no significant difference between group A and B in PC-Ag levels (P 0.50) but a significant difference in TM levels (P 0.001).