The influence of metformin on the fibrinolytic system and insulin resistance in patients with hypertension

Metformin: effects on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) affects approximately 12 million people in the United States. NIDDM is frequently found to coexist with other conditions, such as obesity, dyslipidemia, atherosclerotic vascular disease, and hypertension, which contribute to morbidity and mortality. Although the major clinical objective in the management of NIDDM is to control hyperglycemia, the long-term objective is to prevent microvascular and macrovascular complications. Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in NIDDM patients. Although hyperglycemia may be adequately controlled, risk factors for coronary heart disease may remain unchanged. Treatment with metformin controls hyperglycemia and may have positive effects on cardiovascular risk factors. When used alone or in combination with sulfonylureas, metformin tends to stabilize or decrease weight, maintains or reduces insulin levels, has beneficial effects on plasma lipid profiles, and may also have beneficial effects on blood pressure and the fibrinolytic system.

The status of PAI-1 as a risk factor for arterial and thrombotic disease: a review

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a rapid inhibitor of tissue plasminogen (tPA) in vivo. Evidence suggests that the level of plasma PAI-1 activity is responsible for the regulation of the whole fibrinolytic process through this tPA/PAI-1 interaction. Levels of PAI-1 have therefore emerged as a candidate for a thrombotic risk factor. Recent epidemiological data supports the view that high plasma levels of PAI-1 may be important in the pathogenesis of arterial and thrombotic disease. These data are reviewed and their significance discussed. PAI-1 expression has been shown to be regulated by many different factors in vitro and the relevance of these data to in vivo physiology is addressed. The current knowledge of the biochemistry, expression and genetics of PAI-1 is also presented and the significance of this to disease pathogenesis is discussed.