Summary
In 30 insulin-dependent diabetic patients protein C (PC) antigen and PC activity were
significantly lower than those of matched control healthy subjects. An inverse correlation
between fasting plasma glucose and both PC concentration and activity was present
in diabetics, while a direct correlation between PC concentration and PC activity
was observed. Induced hyperglycemia in diabetic and normal subjects was able to decrease
both PC antigen levels and PC activity, and heparin reversed in part this effect.
In diabetic patients euglycemia obtained by insulin infusion restored to normal the
depressed PC levels. Heparin did not alter both the basal PC concentration and activity
in healthy controls.
These data stress the major role of hyperglycemia in determining PC decrease in diabetics,
and suggest that PC reduction is probably associated to hyperglycemia-enhanced thrombin
formation.