Abstract
The effects of elastase on lipid metabolism, platelet function, and blood coagulability were evaluated in 20 patients with diabetes mellitus. Blood was sampled before medication, and at 8 and 16 weeks after oral administration of 10800 units of elastase per day. Measurements were made of platelet count, platelet sensitivity to ADP-aggregation, serum concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride, and plasma concentrations of β-thromboglobulin (β-TG), fibrinogen (Fbg) and antithrombin III (AT III).
After the administration of elastase, HDL-cholesterol increased (0 W: 46.9±12.1 mg/dl; 8 W: 50.3±11.1 mg/dl, p<0.001; 16 W: 53.2±11.9 mg/dl, p<0.001), and triglyceride decreased (0W: 151.4±49.2 mg/dl; 8W: 128.1±44.1 mg/dl, p<0.05; 16 W: 125.4±43.4 mg/dl, p<0.05).There was no significant change in total cholesterol. The platelet count was elevated and β-TG decreased after the medication (0W: 117.0±67.1 ng/ml: 8W: 91.9+60.5 ng/ml, p<0.01; 16 W: 72.7±54.5 ng/ml, p<0.001); however, platelet sensitivity to ADP-aggregation remained unchanged. Although both Fbg and AT III increased, the degree of increase in AT III (0W: 25.8±4.0 mg/dl; 8 W: 31.1±5.3 mg/dl, p<0.001; 16 W: 32.0±4.2 mg/dl, p<0.001) was greater than that in Fbg (0W: 421.0±76.8 mg/dl; 8W: 471.3±95.9 mg/dl, p<0.01; 16W: 470.6±104.2 mg/dl, p<0.05).
In conclusion, elastase improved lipid metabolism, suppressed platelet release reaction and increased the AT III level. Therefore, it appears that elastase is useful drug for the protection of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus.
