Effects of an oral antidiabetic drug (gliclazide) on inhibition of coagulation and fibrinolysis studied in insulin-treated diabetic patients (type I)

Increased fibrinolytic potential induced by gliclazide in type I and type II diabetic patients

Despite the fact that the relationship between impaired diabetic control and the development of vascular complications now seems less controversial than before, we are still in a situation where interventions or strategies aimed at decreasing the complications of late diabetes have high priorities. It is believed that accelerated vascular disease in the diabetic population is caused by repeated intimal injury of the arteries, and there is also evidence that the accelerated vascular disease states cannot be attributed only to the hyperglycemic state. One factor of importance for delayed tissue repair and arteriosclerotic disease in diabetic patients might be a disordered endothelial cell-dependent fibrinolytic system. Here, we review the evidence of the relationship between increased fibrin deposition and defective fibrinolysis in diabetic patients, and, furthermore, we discuss the possible beneficial effects of an enhancement of endogenous endothelial cell-related fibrinolysis by sulphonylurea drugs.