Leg ulcers in Klinefelter's syndrome – further evidence for an involvement of plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1

Summary An abnormality in platelet aggregability or fibrinolysis, namely elevated activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1), has been recently documented in patients suffering from Klinefelter's syndrome associated with leg ulceration without underlying venous insufficiency. To determine whether increased PAI‐1 activity is a general feature of Klinefelter's syndrome, or more specifically associated with leg ulceration, we investigated PAI‐1 influencing parameters and PAI‐1 activity in two groups of patients: (i) Klinefelter patients suffering from leg ulceration (n=7); and (ii) Klinefelter patients without leg ulceration (n=6). On analysing PAI‐1 influencing parameters such as age, body mass index, triglycerides, C‐reactive protein, testosterone, smoking behaviour, the presence of diabetes mellitus, and artierial hypertension, respectively, we found no statistically significant differences between the two groups. However, PAI‐1 activity in group 1 was highly significantly elevated compared with that in group two patients (P