Acute coronary thrombosis in a patient with diabetes and severe hyperglycemia

The pathophysiological processes responsible for acute coronary events in diabetic patients, in addition to the conventional factors associated with plaque rupture, include an enhanced prothrombotic state. This enhanced prothrombotic state results from multiple abnormalities of the coagulation system including platelet activation, impaired fibrinolysis and increased activity of the coagulation cascade. Studies have also demonstrated that severe hyperglycemia can result in an exacerbation of the underlying prothrombotic state, indicating that patients with extreme hyperglycemia are subject to an even greater thrombotic risk. The present case illustrates the thrombotic hazards associated with severe hyperglycemia.