Indicators of endothelial dysfunction and the rate of thrombotic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at different periods after COVID-19

Introduction. Damage to the vascular endothelium and hypercoagulation are two of the main causes of post-COVID-19 complications. The aim of our study was to evaluate endothelial dysfunction and thrombotic complications at different periods after COVID-19 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients and methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 135 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who applied for inpatient treatment at the RSSPMCE clinic (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) in the period from 3 to 24 months after the acute period of COVID-19. The following laboratory parameters were assessed: fibrinogen, INR, APTT, D-dimer, von Willebrand factor, and cell adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1). Results. Despite normal or near-normal INR, APTT and fibrinogen levels, many patients had elevated levels of D-dimer (41.4 % of cases), von Willebrand factor (27.6 % of cases) and vascular cell molecules up to 24 months after infection. The concentrations of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 did not have statistically significant correlations with the degree of compensation of diabetes mellitus (HbA1c level). At various times after COVID-19, cases of ischemic forms of diabetic foot syndrome and thrombosis affecting the cavernous sinus and upper extremities were recorded. Conclusion. Taking into account the results obtained, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after SARS-CoV-2 infection require careful monitoring, and, in addition to assessing standard coagulation parameters, determining the level of cell adhesion molecules may have diagnostic value.