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Platelet aggregation and plasma levels of beta-thromboglobulin in diabetes mellitus
Insights
Diabetic patients do not show increased platelet aggregation. However, elevated plasma beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) levels in diabetics, particularly those with microangiopathy, suggest in vivo platelet hyperfunction linked to vascular complications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Hematology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased vascular complications.
- Platelet function and activation markers are implicated in thrombotic events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate platelet aggregation and plasma beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) levels in diabetic patients.
- To compare these markers between diabetic patients with and without vascular complications, and with non-diabetic controls.
Main Methods:
- Studied platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, and epinephrine.
- Measured plasma beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) levels.
- Included healthy controls, non-diabetic patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), and diabetic patients.
Main Results:
- Diabetic patients showed no significant difference in platelet aggregation compared to controls or IHD patients.
- Plasma beta-TG levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in controls and IHD patients.
- Diabetic patients with microangiopathy had significantly higher beta-TG levels than those without, who had levels similar to controls.
Conclusions:
- Platelet aggregation is not significantly altered in diabetes mellitus.
- Elevated plasma beta-TG levels in diabetics, especially with microangiopathy, indicate in vivo platelet hyperfunction.
- This hyperfunction may contribute to the vascular complications observed in diabetes.
Abstract:
In view of the tendency toward vascular complications in diabetes mellitus, we studied platelet aggregation and plasma beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) levels in 35 healthy controls, 25 non-diabetic patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and 85 diabetic patients. Blood platelets from diabetic patients showed no significant hyperaggregation induced by ADP, collagen or epinephrine, as compared with controls and non-diabetic patients with IHD, nor could be demonstrated significant differences in platelet aggregation between diabetics with diabetic microangiopathies and those without diabetic vascular complications. Significantly high levels of plasma beta-TG were observed in diabetics in comparison with those in controls and non-diabetic patients with IHD. Patients with diabetic microangiopathy had more significantly elevated beta-TG levels than diabetics without diabetic microangiopathies. Diabetics without diabetic microangiopathy had similar levels of beta-TG to those of controls and non-diabetic patients with IHD. High levels of plasma beta-TG in diabetics with diabetic microangiopathy seem to indicate a platelet hyperfunction in vivo due to diabetic vascular complications.