BACKGROUND: Increased plasma levels of activated factor FXII (FXIIa) are associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. There are increased levels of FXIIa in patients with dyslipidaemia and also elevated levels of FXIIa have been reported in patients with diabetes mellitus. No studies were reported whether FXIIa correlates rather with plasma glucose levels or with other metabolic markers like hypertriacylglycerolemia.

METHODS: We measured plasma FXIIa levels, triacylglycerols, uric acid and glucose in a group of 158 hyperglycaemic patients with P-glucose more than 8 mmol/l and variable serum lipid parameters [cholesterol, triacylglycerols, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein AI, apolipoprotein B] in a group of 55 patients of lipid clinic on hypolipidaemic treatment (statins, fibrates).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The comparison of FXIIa with the age in the group of hyperglycaemic patients has shown that the number of patients with FXIIa more than 2.5 microg/l is growing with increasing age. Low concentration of FXIIa was observed in the youngest age group (10-30 years), where all values are within the reference ranges. We proved positive correlation between plasma FXIIa levels and age, triacylglycerols, uric acid. No correlation was found between plasma FXIIa and glucose in both groups.

Keywords: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Arteriosclerosis /blood/; Child; Diabetes Complications; Diabetes Mellitus /blood/; Factor XIIa /analysis/; Female; Humans; Hyperglycemia /blood/; Hyperlipidemias /blood/; Male; Middle Aged; Risk Factors