von Willebrand factor and its propeptide in children with diabetes. Relation between endothelial dysfunction and microalbuminuria.

It has been shown that patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus have elevated von Willebrand factor (vWF) plasma concentrations. Plasma fibrinogen, vWF, and its propeptide concentrations have been evaluated in 102 children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus to determine whether an increase of vWF and its propeptide levels precedes and may predict the development of persistent microalbuminuria. The patients have been divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of microalbuminuria at the end of follow-up.

Insulin resistance in epileptic girls who gain weight after therapy with valproic acid.

Valproic acid is effective for treatment of many types of epilepsy, but its use in epileptic patients can be associated with an increase in body weight that could interfere with treatment compliance. The weight gain may result from different mechanisms, but the exact pathogenesis is still unknown. To evaluate insulin sensitivity in adolescents who gained weight during treatment with valproic acid, we studied 20 girls with different types of epilepsy: 15 patients had primary generalized seizures, including absence seizures (3 cases), and 5 patients had partial seizures.