Diabetes mellitus is considered to cause a tendency for arterial thrombosis. Recent studies addressed the association between venous and arterial disease. Resistance to activated protein C is one of the most common causes of venous thrombosis and linked to a single point mutation in the factor V gene, designated as factor V Leiden mutation. There is little information regarding the status of factor V Leiden mutation in type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study is to evaluate association among activated protein C sensitivity ratio, factor V Leiden mutation, and type 1 diabetes taking into account metabolic control, lipids and diabetic complications. The study population consisted of 47 healthy subjects (27.9 +/- 1.2 years) and 48 type 1 diabetic patients (27.9 +/- 1.1 years). Activated protein C sensitivity ratio was measured by activated partial thromboplastin time based assay. The presence of factor V Leiden mutation was determined by amplifying the fragments encompassing gene mutation by PCR. Mean normalized activated protein C sensitivity ratio values and prevalence of heterozygous factor V Leiden mutation were not significantly different between groups (1.08 +/- 0.03 and 6.3% in healthy subjects; 1.01 +/- 0.03 and 6.4% in type 1 diabetic patients, respectively). The activated protein C sensitivity ratio and factor V Leiden mutation were not found to be linked with metabolic control parameters, lipids and diabetic complications in type 1 diabetic patients. There was no association among factor V Leiden mutation, activated protein C sensitivity ratio and type 1 diabetes, metabolic control parameters as well as complications of diabetes. Although the propensity to thrombosis is increased in individuals with type 1 diabetes, activated protein C sensitivity ratio and factor V Leiden mutation do not appear to be significant determinants.