Objective: 

In our study, we aimed at investigating the haemostatic status of diabetic patients through an innovative method called fibrinresistometry (FBR). FBR measures the breakage resistance of the fibrin clot (BRFC), a biophysical parameter that describes the adhesion and extension resistance of the fibrin network until its breaking point.

Methods:The study lot consisted of 65 diabetic patients (31 women, 34 men, ages 31 to 80) grouped according to the time since diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus, and 60 controls (31 women, 29 men, ages 35 to 79). We determined and statistically analyzed BRFC, fibrinogen, and standard coagulation time tests: PT, aPTT, platelet count, mean platelet volume. Normal range for FBR is 200-300 fibrinresistometric units (FU).

Results: 

Mean BRFC values for the diabetic patients (323.34±49.88) was significantly greater (p<0.001) than controls (248.64±25.71). Also, mean BRFC increased steadily with the time since DM diagnosis. The history of DM correlated with BRFC (chi square=21.55,p<0.001), but not with fibrinogen (chi square=2.98,p=0.40). BRFC correlated with platelet count (Pearson coefficient=0.50) and mean platelet volume (Pearson coefficient=0.52). Standard coagulation tests were within normal range. No significant differences were found between men and women.

Conclusions: 

Not necessarily correlated with coagulation time tests, FBR could be recommended as an independent predictor of the prothrombotic status present in DM, thus opening a new line of research in this field. The method we propose, a novelty in itself, is showing more and more convincing arguments of its clinical use.

This work is supported by CNCS–UEFISCDI, project number1219/2009–IDEI code562/2008.