Cellular abnormalities in diabetes mellitus as factors in vascular complications

Blood cell and vascular cell dysfunctions have been observed in diabetes mellitus. Platelet hyperaggregability, monocyte dysfunctions, erythrocyte aggregability and adherence begin to be understood at the molecular level. The smooth muscle cell proliferation and the increase in vascular permeability could be related to cell-cell interactions or mediated via released factors such as cytokines or free radicals. A common but not exclusive explanation of these abnormalities could be non enzymatic glycosylation of lipids, proteins and cellular components.