Glycemic Control and Plasma Levels of Pro-Inflammatory and Pro-Thrombotic Biomarkers in Diabetic Patients Presenting with Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Type I and type II diabetes are closely associated with a pro-inflammatory state and to a pro-thrombotic state. The role of glycemic control in pulmonary embolism (PE) is poorly understood and requires additional investigation. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between glycemic control and thrombo-inflammatory biomarkers in a PE patient cohort compared to normal samples. Demographic and clinical information for 86 diabetic patients and 106 non-diabetic patients presenting with acute PE was collected via retrospective chart review. Plasma levels of pro-inflammatory (C-reactive protein [CRP], tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interleukin-6 [IL-6]) and pro-thrombotic (d-dimer, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1], tissue plasminogen activator [tPA], thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor [TAFI], von-Willebrand factor [vWF], endogenous glycosaminoglycans [GAGs]) biomarkers were drawn within 24 hours of diagnosis of acute PE. Data was also obtained for a population of healthy adult controls. All the pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic biomarkers were elevated in diabetic PE patients in comparison to healthy controls. None of the biomarkers were elevated in diabetic PE patients when compared to non-diabetic PE patients. There was no difference in the levels of the pro-inflammatory biomarkers according to glycemic control. The plasma level of TAFI was elevated in diabetic patients with poor glycemic control. Diabetic patients were more likely to have a more severe PE. These studies demonstrate that thrombo-inflammatory biomarkers are elevated in diabetic PE patients with associated comorbidities in comparison to normal individuals. However, there is no difference between the PE cohort alone in comparison to PE with diabetes. The role of TAFI within the continuum of diabetic vascular disease warrants additional investigation.