Hydrogen peroxide formation in platelets of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

A group of 29 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) was compared with a group of 19 patients who had good glycemic control for platelet activity and hydrogen peroxide formation. NIDDM patients showed platelet hyperactivity in response to low ADP concentrations. In addition, stimulated platelets from untreated NIDDM patients produced more hydrogen peroxide than platelets of treated and normal subjects. Hydrogen peroxide accumulation was not related to modification of the enzymatic systems involved in its synthesis and break-down. The specific activities of NAD(P)H cytochrome C reductase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were not different between patients and healthy subjects. It is likely that the platelet intracellular elevation of reactive oxygen free-radicals could play an important role in the vascular complications and thrombotic risk that is often present in NIDDM patients.