Evaluating the effect of antidiabetic treatment on haemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters among type 2 diabetics in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a disease of epidemic proportions and many patients are at a great risk of premature mortality and  complication of atherothrombotic disorders affecting coronary, cerebral and peripheral arterial trees. Increased Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor  Type 1 inhibits fibrinolysis and predicts cardiovascular risk in those living with Type 2 Diabetes. This study aimed to determine the effect of  antidiabetic treatment on haemostatic and fibrinolytic parameters among Type 2 Diabetic subjects in Ilorin.
Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study involving 78 Type 2 diabetic patients, (39 treatment naïve, 39 treatment experienced). Full  blood count was performed using Sysmex XP 300 while Prothrombin time was determined using one stage test of Owren. Activated partial  thromboplastin time was determined by method of Proctor and Rapaport. Fibrinogen and Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor type-1 were assayed  using AssayMax Human Fibrinogen ELISA and AssayMax Human PAI-1 ELISA kit. Data Analysis was done using SPSS version 25.0.
Results: Mean PAI-1 levels were significantly higher in treatment naïve diabetics when compared to treatment experienced diabetics (2.44 ±2.57 vs  2.51±1.47 ng/ml p=0.002) as were fibrinogen levels (434.65±366.15 vs 482.24± 299.64mg /dl; p = 0.048). PAI -1 levels were lowest among diabetics  treated with Metformin + DPP4 inhibitors, while fibrinogen levels were lowest among those treated with Metformin + sulfonylurea combination.
Conclusion: Oral hypoglycaemic treatment, combination therapy in particular, improves fibrinolysis in type 2 diabetics thereby reducing the risk of  cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.