Summary
The metabolic syndrome (metS), a concurrence of abdominal fat, disturbed glucose and
insulin metabolism, dyslipidemia, and hypertension has been strongly associated not
only with subsequent development of type 2 diabetes but also with athero-thrombosis.
The physiopathology of this association is complex. The metS affects the thrombogenicity
of circulating blood. Apart from its effect on platelets, a procoagulant and hypofibrinolytic
state has been identified; mainly the result of the inflammatory state, dyslipidemia,
and liver fat accumulation that accompany the MetS. Among haemostasis disturbances,
the strong rise in the inhibitor of plasminogen activator type 1 plasma level is the
most documented abnormality implicating the participation of the oxidative stress
and inflammatory state developed during the metS. Endothelial dysfunction is also
a central feature. Moreover, secretion products of fat tissues (adipokines) are now
thought to have direct modulating effects on the vascular and the circulating cells.
In support of these data, the metS, may predispose not only to atherosclerosis but
also to venous thrombosis.
Keywords
Haemostasis - metabolic syndrome - visceral obesity - platelet - coagulation - fibrinolysis
- endothelial dysfunction