Platelet sensitivity to adenosine diphosphate and to prostacyclin in diabetic pregnancies

Platelet sensitivity to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and to prostacyclin (PGI2) was studied in normal and diabetic pregnant women. The threshold concentrations of ADP inducing the second phase of aggregation were used to determine the platelet sensitivity to PGI2. The sensitivity of platelets to ADP increased in both groups in the second trimester, thereafter it decreased both in normal and diabetic pregnancies. In contrast, sensitivity to PGI2 increased in the last trimester of pregnancy. No difference could be observed between diabetic and normal groups. The similarity of the results between the two groups could be explained by the normoglycaemic state of well-controlled diabetic pregnant women.