Metformin decreases the high plasminogen activator inhibition capacity, plasma insulin and triglyceride levels in non-diabetic obese subjects.

We have previously observed a positive correlation between Plasminogen Activator Inhibition capacity (PA Inhibition), Body Mass Index (BMI) and plasma insulin levels in a population of non diabetic subjects. The anti diabetic biguanide Metformin which decreases insulin resistance has been reported to increase the blood fibrinolytic activity. Therefore we have studied the effect of Metformin on PA Inhibition levels in obese subjects with normal glucose tolerance. Eighteen obese women (O) (BMI: 31.4 +/- 1.13, m +/- S.E.M.) were compared to age matched controls (C) (BMI: 20.2 +/- 0.8) and randomized to a 15 days treatment by Metformin (M) (1.7 g/day) or placebo (P) in a double blind study while on a weight maintaining diet. O compared to C had higher levels (m +/- S.E.M.) of PA Inhibition (9 +/- 1.8 IU/ml, versus 2.88 +/- 0.29 p less than 0.01), lower euglobulin fibrinolytic activity (EFA) (4.95 +/- 1.17 mm versus 9 +/- 0.29 p less than 0.05), higher plasma insulin (24.1 +/- 2.1. uU/ml), versus 12 +/- 1 p less than 0.01) and triglyceride (1.32 +/- 0.16 mmol/l, versus 0.8 +/- 0.08 p less than 0.05). After 15 days of treatment, in group M a significant decrease in PA Inhibition (5.51 +/- 1.4, versus 9.48 +/- 2.1 p less than 0.05) in plasma insulin (18.5 +/- 0.1, versus 24.5 +/- 3.5, p less than 0.05) and plasma triglyceride (1.08 +/- 0.1, versus 1.47 +/- 0.3 p less than 0.05) and an increase in EFA (6.50 +/- 0.28, versus 5.25 +/- 0.35 p less than 0.05) were observed. No significant variation was observed in group P.

Deficient t-PA release and elevated PA inhibitor levels in patients with spontaneous or recurrent deep venous thrombosis.

The fibrinolytic system was investigated in 120 patients with spontaneous or recurrent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) without any known organic disease able to explain by itself the occurrence of a thrombosis and without any known defect of antithrombin III, Heparin Cofactor II, Protein C, or Protein S. The assays included: Euglobulin fibrinolytic activity (EFA), tissue-type plasminogen activator related antigen (t-PA-Ag) and plasminogen activator inhibitor activity (PA inhibitor), which were measured before and after 10 min of venous occlusion (V.O.). On the basis of the results, the patients could be classified in 3 groups: good responders with an at least two-fold increase of EFA after venous occlusion (n = 76), poor responders with a lesser increase of EFA due to deficient release of t-PA (n = 12), and poor responders with a normal t-PA release but an increased level of PA-Inhibitor (n = 32). The poor responders due to deficient t-PA release (10% of total) had a higher incidence of recurrence of deep vein thrombosis, than the other groups (p less than 0.01). An overall correlation was found between the level of PA-Inhibitor activity and the triglyceride level (r = 0.40, p less than 0.01), suggesting that these elevations may be due to a common cause, at least in some of the patients. It is concluded that a poor fibrinolytic response to venous occlusion occurs in 35 percent of DVT patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Thromboembolic disease and anomalies of fibrinolysis]. / Maladie thromboembolique et anomalies de la fibrinolyse.

Quantitative abnormalities of fibrinolytic system factors (tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PA-inhibitor) are often found in the patients exhibiting an idiopathic thromboembolic pathology. Exploration of fibrinolytic system is performed by taking blood samples prior and after stimulation (after venous occlusion or DDAVP injection). Patients can be "good responders" (that is presenting with an increase of fibrinolytic activity after stimulation) or "bad responders". Among these latter (that is 30 p. 100 of cases), there are two groups: patients exhibiting an increase of PA inhibitor level, this concealing fibrinolytic role of t-PA released by stimulation (20 p. 100 of cases), patients failing to present any t-PA release through endothelial cells stimulation (10 p. 100 of cases). Furthermore, an hypofibrinolysis was demonstrated a long time ago, in certain thrombogenic conditions (post-operative period, obesity, elderly patients). Hypofibrinolysis was recently demonstrated, according to such conditions, as liable to an increase in the PA inhibitor levels. As pathogenic role of hypofibrinolysis is then demonstrated, therapeutic studies reducing the PA inhibitor level or increasing the t-PA rate produced and released by endothelial cells are to be developed.

Relationships between plasma insulin triglyceride, body mass index, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1.

Low fibrinolytic activity, as measured by euglobulin (EFA), has been observed in obese subjects, and hypofibrinolysis may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its complications. Blood fibrinolytic activity is regulated through a complex system of activators and inhibitors, especially plasminogen activator inhibitors (PA Inhibitors). In a group of 35 non-diabetic subjects with a wide range of body mass index (BMI), EFA was negatively correlated, and PA Inhibitor activity positively correlated, with BMI and plasma insulin levels. In a population of 49 non-diabetic obese women (differing from a control group of normal weight by lower EFA and higher level, of PA Inhibitor activity, plasma insulin and triglyceride), the PA Inhibitor activity was positively correlated with BMI, insulin and triglyceride. The increase in PA Inhibitor activity was associated with a high value of PA Inhibitor 1 antigen measured by an immuno-radiometric assay, indicating that the increased activity was due to a high level of circulating PA Inhibitor 1. Plasma insulin was lowered in obese non-diabetic subjects, without modification of the body weight, by a 24 hour fast or by treatment with Metformin. After 24 hours' fast, ten obese subjects had lower levels of insulin and PA Inhibitor activity and an increase in EFA. Treatment for 15 days by 1.75 g Metformin (or placebo), on a weight maintaining diet, induced, in the Metformin group, a decrease in plasma insulin, triglyceride and PA Inhibitor activity and an increase in EFA, while no change was observed in the placebo group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)