Blood coagulation parameters in insulin-dependent diabetic children at onset of the disease and after 3 months.

: Levels of factors II, V, VII, VIII C, VIII R:Ag, VIII vW, IX, X, PT, PTT, TT, TR, antithrombin III and fibrinogen were evaluated in 11 children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) at onset of disease and after 3 months and in 15 healthy age-matched controls. At onset of IDDM a significant increase was observed only in mean values of factor VIII C, VIII R:Ag and in VIII vW. After 3 months the levels of factor VIII C returned within the normal range whilst no variations of factor VIII R:Ag and vW were found. These data show that coagulation abnormalities are already present at onset of IDDM and that endothelial damage evidenced by high values of factor VIII R:Ag and vW may persist even in a phase of good metabolic control. Levels of factor VIII C seem to be related to the increased protein glycosylation of IDDM.