Contact phase of blood coagulation in diabetes mellitus

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Abstract
The 1st phase of the intrinsic coagulation system was studied in 26 diabetic outpatients. The parameters tested were kallikrein, prekallikrein, factor XI and factor XII activities. Kallikrein and factor XI showed significantly elevated activities as compared with a normal control group (P < 0.05 and < 0.001, respectively). Factor XI and factor XII levels were higher in non-insulin-dependent than in insulin-dependent diabetics. The kallikrein-prekallikrein system was activated in the diabetic patients and such activation was probably secondary to lesions of the vascular endothelium present in long-term diabetics. No correlation was found between glycemia and activity levels of this system. The existence of a hypercoagulable state in diabetes mellitus is demonstrated.