Summary
The macrovascular complications of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)
are related to the features of insulin resistance (IR). High Factor VII :C (FVII:C)
levels are associated with increased cardiovascular risk and relate to a base change
in the FVII gene detected by Msp I endonuclease, and also to an insertion polymorphism
in the promoter region. To examine the association between FVII:C levels, genotype
and features of IR, 95 NIDDM patients were studied. Genotype was related to FVII:C
levels (M1M1 137%, n = 75; M1M2 and M2M2 114%, n = 20, p <0.005; AA 136%, n = 71;
Aa 119%, n = 21, p <0.05), which is consistent with previous studies in healthy populations.
FVII: C correlated with cholesterol (r = 0.51, p <0.0005), insulin (r = 0.36, p =
0.002), triglycerides (r = 0.34, p = 0.001), age (r = 0.23, p <0.005) and body mass
index (r = 0.23, p <0.05). When analysed by Msp I genotype, the stronger predictor
of FVII: C levels, these correlations remained, with no difference in regression slopes.
In a multiple regression model, genotype, cholesterol, insulin, and gender remained
as independent predictors of FVII:C levels. In conclusion, FVII :C concentrations
are elevated in NIDDM in relation to both FVII genotypes and features of IR.
