Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) in diabetic foot syndrome

Abstract Purpose The aim was to evaluate tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) concentration using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method (ELISA) in diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) as compared to a group of healthy people and patients with diabetes mellitus without symptomatic vascular complications (DM2T). Material/methods Venous blood samples were collected from 90 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (30 – DM2T; 60 – DFS). Age-matched controls were also included ( n  = 30). tPA and PAI-1 plasma levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results We found a significantly lower concentration of tPA:Ag in patients with DFS in comparison to the DM2T group; tPA concentrations were significantly higher in DM2T as compared to the control group. We observed significantly lower concentration of PAI-1:Ag in DF patients treated for hypertension as compared to patients without hypertension. The tPA:Ag and PAI-1:Ag concentration analysis in DFS depending on age, gender and BMI did not show any significant differences. Conclusions A lower concentration of tPA in patients with DFS may be associated with damage to the endothelial cells, especially in the microvasculature, and the sympathetic nervous system.