Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Showing Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia and Chronic Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Abstract

It has been reported that microangiopathic hemolytic anemia occasionally occurs in patients with severe diabetic microangiopathy. We report a case of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in whom microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were thought to be complicated. The patient showed fragmentation hemolytic anemia and progressive diabetic microangiopathy, together with a mild elevation of serum fibrin (ogen) degradation products. Considering the state of chronic DIC, heparin therapy was started, but mild hemolysis persisted. It is possible that microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and chronic DIC cause a vicious cycle in patients with severe diabetic microangiopathy, leading to rapid progression of diabetic microangiopathy.
(Internal Medicine 31 : 1310-1312, 1992)