[A study of platelet abnormalities in obese subjects (author's transl)]

In 81 obese subjects the following studies were performed: --measurement of fat mass and its distribution in the body, --exploration of carbohydrate tolerance and lipid plasma level, --assessment of platelet aggregation and coagulation activity, --investigation of the chemical composition of platelet phospholipids. Platelet hyperactivity was demonstrated in certain patients, as evidenced by the presence of irreversible platelet aggregation with low doses of aggregation agents and by an increase in platelet coagulant activity; the latter phenomenon was not accompanied by a change in the biochemical composition of platelet phospholipids. Results of this work showed that platelet activity was not related to body weight and displayed no correlation or a slightly negative one to fat mass excess. Platelet activity was significantly increased in cases where obesity predominated in the upper body (hyperandroid obesity). The classical association of diabetes and atherosclerosis with hyperandroid obesity did not allow us to distinguish between the relative importance of hyperandroid obesity and diabetes in the observed platelet hyperactivity. Regardless of the causal mechanism involved, the relationship between platelet hyperactivity and upper body fat excess should be kept in mind.